Local Manchester man and father of three, James Goodall, is taking on 26 marathons in memory of his father, Peter, and best friend, David Barnett, who both died from cancer.
The challenge, titled The Power of Hope, was created after many years of grief following the loss of James’ father, and then the devastating experience of watching his best friend suffer with brain cancer.
From 25 March, James is completing 26 marathons, with his last taking place on 17 June, marking exactly 25 years since his dad died. His route will take him from his hometown of Whitefield through Prestwich, the city centre, Stretford and Sale, finishing under the Sir Alex Ferguson statue at Old Trafford football club.
James’ fifth in the series will be on Sunday 19 April, where he will take on the adidas Manchester Marathon among 40,000 fellow runners.
Through the challenge, he is hoping to raise £26,000 for The Christie, who treated his father for three years. “This is a challenge rooted in loss, resilience, and the belief that hope can carry people through their darkest times. I want to help people keep moving, healing, and striving towards something positive, even when everything suggests giving up.
When James first conceived the Power of Hope Challenge, he planned to run 25 marathons to mark 25 years since his father Peter passed away on 17 June 2001, aged 53. However, during the planning stages, his best friend of more than 30 years, David Barnett, was tragically diagnosed with brain cancer.
Following David’s passing, aged 49, at the end of 2024, James made the decision to add an additional marathon in his honour.
“The Christie charity is incredibly close to my heart. I spent a lot of time there while my dad was being treated and witnessed first-hand the incredible work of the staff and the bravery of the patients. There was no other charity I wanted to fundraise for, and I would love to raise £26,000 through this challenge.”
James also spoke about the two men whose memories will be honoured through the challenge.
“My dad, Peter, was my best friend and my hero. We worked together every day for seven years and shared many happy memories, including our love for Manchester United. On the day he died, a part of me died too.”
“Dave was one of my closest friends from a young age. We met our wives at the same time, married within six months of each other, and our daughters were born just three months apart — they’re still best friends today. We shared countless great times together, but one of the most special was watching United win the treble in Barcelona in 1999.”
Losing both his father and best friend had a profound emotional impact on James, but he is determined to turn his grief into something positive by supporting The Christie.
“Watching two men be taken by cancer, yet fight it like warriors, is what drives me to take on this challenge. I want to raise awareness of the battles people face every day and inspire hope that one day we will find a cure.”
James, who last ran a marathon in 2007, says his training has already tested him both physically and mentally.
“The training has been tough, especially balancing long runs with work and family life, but every step reminds me why I’m doing this. When it gets hard, I think of my dad and Dave, and I keep going.”
Although he will be feeling the physical impacts of having run 26 marathons, James is looking forward to the challenge.
“A highlight for me will be the adidas Manchester Marathon. I’ve supported the event for the last few years and know how incredible the atmosphere is. The energy from the crowds will carry me over the finish line – it will be an emotional moment.”
Support to James’ Power of Hope challenge via his JustGiving page here.
