‘I was told I might never walk again’: Woman runs 5,000km to earn place in the record books
Woman told she might never walk again runs 5,000km across UK and Ireland to achieve world record
Esmée Gummer was told she might never walk again.
She was given the life-changing news at the age of just 18 after she was paralysed from the waist down following complications during a routine operation.
But Esmée has defied the odds and learned to walk before going on to complete marathons and ultra-endurance challenges around the world.
Now, after running 5,000km across the UK and Ireland, she has turned a remarkable personal journey into a record-breaking celebration of community, bringing people together through free 5k run clubs.
Over 99 consecutive days, Esmée hosted run clubs in 76 different cities, welcoming thousands of people along the way. Her achievement was officially recognised by Guinness World Records in London on October 3, earning her the title for the most run clubs hosted in different cities by an individual.
People who joined Esmée’s Wakefield run club can now find their official Guinness World Records participant certificate on the Guinness World Records website.
Esmée said: “Ninety-nine days ago I honestly didn't know if my body would get me to the end. What I did know was that if I turned up, the communities I was running to would turn up too, and they did, every single time.
“This record isn't really about me. It's what happens when people show up for each other, city after city, week after week. I've never felt so looked after by strangers, and they very quickly stopped being strangers.”
Starting on June 27, Esmée ran between cities across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales and England, leading a free, open-to-all 5k run club in each location. The challenge ended with a finish line event in Hyde Park in London.
In total, she covered the equivalent of 118 marathons back to back, climbed 62,000 metres in elevation and ran for 580 hours. She welcomed 6,684 people through her run clubs.
The challenge has raised thousands of pounds for charity, with donations shared between Sport In Mind, the UK’s leading mental health sports charity, Wings for Life, which funds spinal cord injury research, and causes nominated by the public.
The fundraising campaign remains open, with donations accepted through Esmée’s GoFundMe page.