Academic to run Great North Run in memory of stepson after just five months’ training

Published on 18, August, 2025

University of Sunderland academic John Paul Green didn’t see himself as a runner – but next month he will take part in the Great North Run for a charity close to his heart following the loss of his beloved teenage stepson.

Matthew Ragsdale was just 14-years-old when he died.

Born with an undiagnosed medical condition similar to cerebral palsy, Matthew was unable to communicate verbally and had severely limited mobility, leaving him unable to walk or control his movements.

John Paul, Faculty Academic Support Lead at the University of Sunderland, will take part in September’s Great North Run to raise money for Grace House, a charity he knows Matthew would have benefited from had he survived.

John Paul, who has worked at the University in a variety of roles for 28 years, said: “To be honest, I never thought I was built for running – too many bad memories of being a regular attendee at the back of cross-country runs in school.”

Next month’s challenge is even more impressive considering it was just five months ago that John Paul laced up a pair of running shoes for the first time.

He said: “My daughter completed the Great North Run in 2024 and she’s a big inspiration; she ran for Grace House then.” 

The family knows that Matthew, who died in 2009, would have been able to access the incredible support services Grace House offers had he lived a few more years, once he had left school.

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John Paul said: “He had the most remarkable smile and a wicked sense of fun. His laughter was infectious, and he brought so much joy and happiness to all those who met him.

“He was even a regular visitor to the University of Sunderland while his mum Kay studied for her media degree.

“Sadly, in 2006 an incident left him with a serious brain injury, just four months before his brother and sister were born, from which he never fully recovered, and his life-limiting conditions meant he passed away far too soon.

"We were all fortunate that Matthew got to know Lucy and Daniel before he passed away two years after their birth and while it was short, the time they spent with Matthew, and the memories of him, had a profound and positive effect on them, as well as all who knew him.”

Grace House plays a critical role in helping support disabled children, young people and their families by helping them to manage challenges and enjoy the benefits of playing a full part in society. 

The family have supported Grace House for years through challenges like walking between Roker and St Mary’s Lighthouses, even with Lucy on crutches, and multiple Great North Runs. This year, it’s John Paul’s turn. 

You can support John Paul’s fundraising here.