Boy, nine, sets out on epic triathlon challenge to raise £30,000 for charity in memory of beloved cousin who died of cancer

Daily Mail​

23-04-2025

When Harvey Goodman's cousin Zak died of cancer, the nine-year-old's world was 'destroyed'.
But after lessons in mindfulness at his primary school helped him cope with his grief, he became determined to help the organisation that made them possible.
That's why Harvey is embarking on a remarkable challenge for Peace & Mind UK, founded by Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered 16-year-old schoolgirl Brianna, which aims to fund a mindfulness teacher in every UK school.
Next weekend, he will swim 1.2 miles, cycle 56 miles, and walk 16 miles as part of an 'epic half-triathlon' in a bid to raise £30,000 for the charity.
Ms Ghey, 38, has previously spoken about how practising mindfulness helped get her through the 'worst time in her life' when her daughter was sadistically killed by two teenagers, in February 2023.
She will be taking part in the event to support the youngster alongside celebrity fitness expert Joe Wicks and Olympic triathletes Mark and Helen Jenkins.
Harvey's mother, Naomi, 31, said her son's school, Stockton Heath Primary, near Warrington, was one of the first to benefit when Peace & Mind UK paid for a teacher at each primary school in the town to undergo mindfulness training in the wake of Brianna's death.
The sessions helped Harvey enormously when Zak, who suffered from Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, was told his illness was terminal and subsequently died at the age of nine in November, she said.
'Zak was the same age as Harvey so he was heartbroken, a shell of a child really, when we told him Zak's cancer could not be cured,' said Mrs Goodman, who is the managing director of an IT and cyber security firm.
'Harvey underwent a lot of mindful sessions at school with his teacher Mrs Smith which really helped him get through and understand.
It helped me too because he had a lot of questions, he was constantly searching for reasons why Zak got cancer and the sessions helped him to disconnect.
'Harvey met Esther at an awards night and heard her speaking about mindfulness and her campaign and it really resonated with him. He said he wanted a Mrs Smith in every school.'
Harvey, who described Zak as his 'hero' for everything he went through, on the morning of May 3 will be swimming 1.2miles at Orford Jubilee indoor swimming pool, before embarking on a 56-mile circular cycle ride from Stockton Heath to Pickmere, Little Budworth and back in the afternoon.
The following day the Manchester United fan will also be walking 16 miles from his primary school to the Red Devils' home ground, Old Trafford, where a party is being held at the finishing line.
It is the fourth challenge kind-hearted Harvey, who has already raised more than £50,000 for charity, has undertaken for different causes since the age of six.
Mrs Goodman, who also has a seven-year-old daughter called Olivia, added: 'He is all about helping others. When he was six he walked 16 miles from Stockton Heath to Old Trafford to raise money for a new playground at his school.
Next weekend, he will swim 1.2 miles, cycle 56 miles, and walk 16 miles as part of an 'epic half-triathlon' in a bid to raise £30,000 for the charity
'The following year he walked 40 miles from Alder Hey Children's Hospital, in Liverpool, where Zak was being treated, to Old Trafford to raise money for his cousin's bucket list
'Then last year he cycled 80 miles between the four North West Premier League club stadiums to raise money for new bike sheds.
'Each year he has tried to challenge himself to do something harder. He's a huge Manchester United fan, so we always finish at Old Trafford.
'I'm so incredibly proud of him. He realised mindfulness helped him, so he wants to help other children. He is just incredible really, such a kind and caring boy.'
Harvey told the Mail, after he completed the 40 mile walk for Alder Hey, he was 'really happy' when Zak went into remission because he thought the cancer was 'cured'.
'When he died in November it destroyed my world,' he said.
'But we had a teacher at my school who does mindfulness. She did it every day with me and it was really good, it really helped me.
'I wanted to do something big to honour Zak and to make sure other children get the support they need.'
He added that he hoped to 'smash' his half-triathlon challenge next week.
Ms Ghey said: 'I'm really grateful to Harvey for taking on this fantastic challenge and I'm really looking forward to swimming, cycling and walking alongside him.
'I know Harvey is going to smash it and I will be left in his dust!
'It is so great to hear real-life stories of how the work Peace & Mind is doing is benefiting young people.
'It actually makes me feel really emotional, but also proud. Our aim is to continue getting mindfulness lessons into schools so every child in the UK has access to mental health support when they need it.'