Daragh Burke stepped onto the Great North Run course on Sunday carrying more than the usual nerves of a first-time half-marathon runner.
The 37-year-old had taken the place of his childhood best friend, PC Matthew Blades, who was killed in the A66 crash last month.
Burke completed the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields in 2hr 59min, fulfilling a challenge his friend had planned to complete himself.
For Burke, the race was not about replacing Blades. It was about ensuring his friend’s final challenge was completed.
‘This One’s for You, Mate’
Before the race, Burke acknowledged that there would likely be emotional moments along the route, but he could almost hear what his friend would have said about the situation.
“I suspect there’ll be a few difficult moments out there, but I also know exactly what Matty would be saying – probably something completely inappropriate while taking the piss out of my running,” he wrote on Facebook.
“This one’s for you, mate. I’ll get you over that finish line.”
The promise was ultimately kept as Burke crossed the finish line just before the three-hour mark.
A Friendship That Lasted Three Decades
Burke and Blades had known each other for around 30 years after becoming friends at primary school.
Their friendship continued through university and adulthood, with the pair remaining exceptionally close.
They were also godfathers to each other’s children.
Burke said the sudden loss of someone who had been a constant presence in his life was difficult to comprehend.
“He was just someone that was always there and I never expected to not be there,” he said.
Describing the police officer’s personality, Burke remembered him as someone whose happiness was infectious.
“He was just the happiest person you could ever meet, always smiling, always up for a laugh and just made time for everyone.”
Blades Had Planned the Run Himself
The Great North Run was supposed to be part of Blades’ own ambitious fundraising campaign for Parkinson’s UK.
The Cleveland Police officer had taken on a year-long series of running challenges in support of the charity after his mother-in-law was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
In January, he challenged himself to run 10 kilometres every day for a month and completed 310 kilometres.
He then planned to take part in several races throughout 2026, with the Great North Run scheduled as his second-to-last challenge.
A Kielder Marathon in October was also on his calendar.
His Parkinson’s UK fundraising page had already raised thousands of pounds before his death.
Burke Faced the Course With Little Preparation
Taking on the half-marathon was a daunting prospect for Burke, particularly because he had only around two weeks to prepare.
Neither he nor Blades had previously competed in the Great North Run.
Burke joked that his friend would have found the entire situation hilarious, particularly given that he was starting immediately behind the elite runners despite his limited preparation.
“He’d be laughing his head off that I’m doing it,” Burke said.
But the humour also reflected the personality Burke wanted people to remember: a man who could make those around him laugh and who was always ready to enjoy himself.
The A66 Crash Claimed Two Officers
Blades, 37, was one of two Cleveland Police officers killed in the devastating collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough in the early hours of August 22.
He and fellow officer PC Tom Clough, 38, were travelling in a marked police armed response vehicle when it was hit by a Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction along the dual carriageway.
All seven people travelling in the two vehicles died.
Cleveland Police said the Passat was believed to have been linked to earlier reports of dangerous driving and had been travelling on the wrong side of the A66 when the collision occurred.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into the circumstances of the crash, while Cleveland Police opened a wider investigation into alleged criminality connected to the events leading up to it.
A Beloved Officer Remembered by Hundreds
Blades was remembered by colleagues, relatives and friends as a devoted husband and father and a much-loved figure within his community.
Hundreds of mourners attended his funeral, including police officers from Cleveland Police and forces from across the country who travelled to pay their respects.
For Burke, however, the most personal tribute was to complete the challenge his friend had begun.
Rather than simply remembering Blades at the roadside, he put on his running vest, entered the race and carried his friend’s unfinished commitment across the finish line.
Parkinson’s UK Honours His Commitment
Parkinson’s UK said it was honoured that Blades had chosen to support the charity through his fundraising challenge.
The organisation also expressed its gratitude to Burke for completing the Great North Run in his friend’s memory.
The race organisers confirmed that Burke’s running number had been officially reallocated so he could take part.
They also reminded runners that race numbers should not normally be swapped between participants because each number is connected to important personal information that may be required by organisers in an emergency.
For Burke, though, the number represented something much more personal: a way of carrying his oldest friend’s final race across the line.
