My name is James “Jiggsy” McLeod, and I am a local lad from Rowlands Gill in Gateshead. In November 2025, my life and my family’s lives changed completely when I tragically lost my dad, Jimmy McLeod, when he took his own life.
He was just 52 years old.
In the aftermath of losing Dad, I wanted to find some way of turning the pain of what had happened into something that could potentially help another person or family avoid experiencing the same devastation.
That became 52 for 52.
Throughout 2026, I am running an average of 52 miles every week for all 52 weeks of the year in my dad’s memory, raising funds and awareness for If U Care Share Foundation, a North East charity providing suicide prevention and postvention support.
Please donate if you can below https://www.justgiving.com/page/2026jm?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
One of the promises I made to my dad was that I would never let his name be forgotten. Every mile I run is part of keeping that promise.
However, as the challenge has developed, it has become about much more than running or fundraising. I want to use Dad’s story and sport as a way of encouraging people – particularly men – to speak when they are struggling and hopefully reach somebody before they reach crisis point.
The campaign has grown considerably. The BBC featured 52 for 52 as part of its Great North Run coverage, while the National Running Show, local MPs, running organisations and other media outlets have helped carry Jimmy’s story much further than I ever expected.
I have a huge amount of respect for the way State of Mind uses sport and lived experience to open conversations around mental fitness and ultimately help prevent suicide. Running has effectively become my way of doing exactly that in Dad’s memory.
My fundraising page is: https://www.justgiving.com/page/2026jm?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
Further information about Jimmy, 52 for 52 and examples of the media coverage can also be found on my Instagram:@jiggsy_mc07
I cannot change what happened to Jimmy, but I can keep running in his name, keep telling his story and try to use sport to make it easier for somebody else to speak when they are struggling.
If you have been bereaved by suicide then pleas click on the link here 69774e64b279d0452df108b8_SOM_BEREAVEMEMT_Guidance_1920x1080.pdf
