On December 23, 2015, my brother Stephen Willey, aged 45, was the victim of a senseless and unprovoked attack while waiting for a bus with his wife, Paula, in Newcastle. This brutal act left him with severe head injuries, and after being placed in a coma, Stephen fought for his life for nearly three years. Today, he remains in a neuro nursing home, receiving 24-hour care.

It wasn’t until we experienced firsthand the devastating effects of a “one punch” attack that we discovered the vital work of the "One Punch" charity. Their support has been invaluable to us during this difficult time. With this in mind, my lifelong friends—Kevin Purvis, Paul Flett, Duncan Meighen, and Paul Barrett—and I have decided to run the Great North Run in 2025. We want to raise money and awareness for One Punch UK, a cause that means so much to our family.

Our goal is simple: to run the 13.1 miles of the course together, from start to finish, united in our mission to raise awareness of the devastating impact of “one punch.” This charity works tirelessly to support victims and their families, and we want to help them continue their crucial work.

If you feel moved by Stephen’s story and would like to support us, any donations to the One Punch NE charity would be deeply appreciated. Your kindness and generosity will help make a real difference.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support.

#WakeUpSteve #RunningForSteve #OnePunchNE #MyBrotherMyHero