ONE year after recovering from alcohol addiction, Jamie O'Callaghan completed a 55km ultra-marathon and raised £5,271 for MacMillan cancer support in the process. 

Jamie checked himself into The Well, Kendal, in April 2022. Already a keen runner, he decided to use his sobriety to push himself even harder once he left rehab. He signed up to do the 55km Lakeland Trails ultra marathon for MacMillan cancer support, a cause his partner Rebecca Ellwood described as 'close to his heart.' 

The Westmorland Gazette: Jamie with the cheque for MacMillan Cancer SupportJamie with the cheque for MacMillan Cancer Support (Image: Submitted)

Rebecca said that he came 16th out of over 100 competitors in a time of seven hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds. He also ran the Great Manchester Run half-marathon on May 21 in a personal best time of one hour and 22 minutes. His brother Liam flew in from Melbourne, Australia, to join him on the run. 

READ MORE: The Well champions its peer support addiction recovery model

Rebecca said: "He pushed himself further and further, trained so hard and regularly, and in return raised quite a bit of money for charity. He truly is an inspiration to all who know him. It's a massive achievement and thanks for all the donations and support received from all that know him.

The Westmorland Gazette: Jamie crossing the finishing line Jamie crossing the finishing line (Image: Submitted)

"He has just signed himself up to a marathon next month which is in the Pennines. He is going to do that in August, he has got that planned. He is going to do training through the winter. He is wanting to do the 55 Ultra again. 

"He wants to help one of his friends with the Bob Graham. Eventually, he wants to do that himself."

The Westmorland Gazette: Jamie embraces his partner Rebecca at the finish lineJamie embraces his partner Rebecca at the finish line (Image: Submitted)

Rebecca praised the services of The Well, calling it 'amazing.' The fact that many of the support staff had lived experiences of addiction themselves helped Jamie overcome his own challenges. She said that since he has left rehab his focus on running, his family and the network created from his time at The Well have helped him adjust to his new life. 

She said: "Some of the lads that have been there with my partner have been successful since. There are meetings most days in the Kendal area."