Our Trustees

I am Drew's older brother. With an age difference of only one year, most interests were shared growing up, and running was no different. I trained and competed alongside Drew throughout our teenage years at Gosforth Harriers, always maintaining a healthy balance between respect and rivalry, most of the time anyway.

Having visited Drew in the US multiple times during the months after his accident, I saw first-hand the skills and specialist equipment available to people both recovering from and living with spinal cord injuries. Since Drew returned to the UK and the initial idea for the charity was born, I have been part of the Gym Possible journey. Still a keen runner to this day, I was part of the fundraising team that pushed Drew round the 2023 Great North Run.

As a trustee, I bring skills in strategic planning and managing complex projects. My career started at Sainsbury's Head Office in London where, over time, I progressed to management level and was responsible for the Location Planning department. A dual desire to enter the tech sector and move back to the North East led to me becoming Managing Director of a small Software-as-a-Service business, which I ran successfully for four years. I now work as a Product Management consultant, helping central government and private sector clients deliver user-centred software in an agile way.

I initially started my career working within HR before transitioning into recruitment and talent acquisition. The majority of my career has been spent working within the North East tech sector, where I have worked for a variety of different organisations, from SMEs to global corporate companies.

I have been involved in athletics since a young age and have known Drew and his family since joining Gosforth Harriers in 1995. Drew and I trained and raced together for many years, becoming good friends. One of my favourite memories was us finishing first and second in the Northern Indoor Championships over 800m, with Drew coming out on top with his usual trademark finish. I went on to compete at a national level and retired from competitive athletics in 2014 due to injury.

Hearing of Drew's accident was a huge shock, and it opened my eyes to some of the challenges faced by disabled people daily, including the lack of truly accessible facilities in the UK. I have supported several fundraising efforts since Drew's accident and was honoured to be invited to push Drew around the 2023 Great North Run to raise money for Gym Possible. Following this, I was privileged to be invited to become a trustee and am committed to supporting Drew and the team in making exercise accessible to everyone, no matter their needs. I am also grateful to Drew for inspiring me to exercise again and live a healthier lifestyle after several years of inactivity.

I am a former Olympic gymnast who proudly represented Great Britain, a British Champion, and a Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist.

In 2020, I met Drew by chance when he was looking for a gym to base Gym Possible. I was delighted to offer Gym Possible a home within our Tumble Centre. Since then, we have worked together to create a purpose-built gymnastics facility at Tumble, which is now home to Gym Possible Benton.

As a trustee, I bring a genuine passion for making exercise and physical activity accessible to as many people as possible. I have spent more than 15 years mentoring young people, helping them build confidence, resilience, and life skills through sport.

I am also the Founder and Director of Tumble Gymnastics & Activity Centre, where I have dedicated my career to creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy gymnastics and physical activity in a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment.

Alongside my work at Tumble and as a trustee, I continue to work as a motivational speaker, sharing my experiences to inspire others to achieve their potential. I also regularly commentate on major gymnastics events for the BBC, combining my passion for the sport with my experience at the highest level.

I am proud to support Gym Possible and its mission of providing inclusive opportunities that enable everyone to experience the physical, social, and emotional benefits of sport and exercise.

I have not known Drew and the team long but have a friend who uses the gym and find the way it is run exceptional.

I retired in 2014 as a Watch Manager from Gateshead Fire Station after serving almost 31 years.

Up until May this year I had been a Gateshead Councillor for 35 years.

I currently work part time for the Member of Parliament for Gateshead Central and Whickham.

I am very keen to support Gym Possible in any way I can.

I have been a gym user for almost 40 years, spent some time as a reservist Paratrooper so did a lot of running and kept that up for a time during my Fire Service career.

I began my career serving for 12 years in the British Army with the Airborne Forces, where I developed the leadership, resilience and teamwork that have shaped my approach throughout my professional life.

Following my military service, I built a successful career in business, bringing over 40 years of leadership and operational experience across aviation, property and entrepreneurship. During this time, I lived and worked overseas with my family in India, Nigeria and China, gaining valuable international business experience and an appreciation of different cultures and communities.

As the owner and operator of Eshott Airfield in Northumberland, I have developed and managed a successful aviation business while leading a wide range of commercial and community projects.

A qualified pilot with a passion for adventure and endurance, I have completed numerous personal challenges and am a strong advocate for the positive impact that physical activity can have on both physical and mental wellbeing. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate in exercise, regardless of disability or circumstance.

I first became aware of Gym Possible through my son, Oli Smith, who is part of the three-man BlueStar team taking on the challenge of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds and awareness for Gym Possible. Watching the dedication of both the BlueStar crew and the Gym Possible community inspired me to become more closely involved with the charity and its mission.

As a Trustee, I am passionate about helping Gym Possible grow sustainably, expanding its reach and developing partnerships that will allow even more people to benefit from its life-changing work. I hope to contribute my commercial experience, strategic thinking and extensive network of contacts to support the charity's continued development and long-term success.

Since a young age I have been involved in athletics and competed against Drew in the age group events at various North East athletics events on the track. I went on to become a two-time British Half Marathon Champion in 2014 and 2015, representing Great Britain at various World and European Championships. I retired from competitive running in 2016 and now live in Morpeth with my family whilst still keeping active with running and football. I run multiple businesses in web design, e-commerce, buying and selling supercars, and am a landlord refurbishing rental properties.

When I heard of Drew's accident it was a real shock. After visiting him at his home in Denver, Colorado in 2015, it really opened my eyes to the daily challenges Drew faced and what an amazing human he was in the way he was dealing with his life-changing injury and making the most of the Craig Hospital facilities in the USA.

Since Drew returned to the UK, I have been supportive of Gym Possible, attending the gym, fundraising and special events. The specialist environment and training opportunities Drew has provided its users really make a massive difference, both mentally and physically, for everyone. What Drew is doing for the community is unbelievable, and every major city needs a Gym Possible.

I was honoured to be part of the team of friends pushing Drew in the 2023 Great North Run, helping raise £14,000 for the gym. The well-needed funds raised are now helping springboard Gym Possible into the future. Following the 2023 Great North Run, I was invited to become a Gym Possible trustee, which I gladly accepted.

After being part of Drew's 2025 Guinness World Record pushing team, I found the inspiration for my own revitalised comeback to running. Drew has been the main reason behind it, driving me on following heart surgery to run 14:30 for 5k and 2:19 for a marathon over the age of 40.