Bereaved dad who 'lost running spirit' to run GNR

A father who lost his "running spirit" when his teenage children took their own lives separately, within the space of a year, is preparing to return to the Great North Run (GNR).

David Beadle, 45, from Shildon in County Durham, lost his 17-year-old daughter, Quinn, in 2018. Ten months later, his son Dyllon, 21, also took his own life.

Beadle had been a keen runner, having completed the annual half-marathon eight times, but he felt unable to take after the loss of his children until "something changed" this year.

He will be raising funds for charity Quinn's Retreat, which offers a free break in static caravans in Barnard Castle and Appleby, Cumbria, for people who have been similarly bereaved.

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After the loss of his children, Beadle said he "never wanted to run again".

"It all felt so pointless," he said.

"When you've lost your two beautiful children, chasing a finish time doesn't seem to matter anymore."

However, celebrating Quinn's Retreat GNR runners over recent years has given Beadle "itchy feet" to return to event, he said.

A team of 40 will be running to raise money for the charity, joining tens of thousands of people expected to take on the 13.1-mile (21km) route through Gateshead and South Tyneside on Sunday, 13 September.

Beadle said training had been "hit and miss", but remained positive.

"My body is 10 years older and I'm not that fit 30-year-old that I used to be, so there'll be no PBs [personal best] getting set... but I'll be getting round, that's for sure."

The idea for Quinn's Retreat, founded in 2020, came from Dyllon who encouraged his parents to take time away after Quinn's death- and gave them the idea to help families in similar situations, or those struggling with their mental health.

"It's just that chance to breathe, to relax and reflect," Beadle said.

He said hundreds of families had stayed over the years, adding the charity was working towards creating a bricks-and-mortar retreat somewhere on the North East coast.

Beadle said the GNR's atmosphere was "like nothing else".

"I think I'll be emotional in the morning, but the memory of Dylan and Quinn will get me around," he said.

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