The North East's Sunshine Fund Run Returns

Organisers of the celebrated Sunshine Run have confirmed its welcome return this week in a bid to raise funds to buy specialist equipment for North East disabled children.

Taking place this year on Wednesday 20 June on Newcastle's Quayside and hosted by the Chronicle Sunshine Fund, organisers have called upon the region's club and fun runners to get involved and do something amazing this summer.

The Sunshine Run will be started by the charity's Northumberland born patron and Paralympian Stephen Miller and will form part of the The Chronicle Sunshine Fund's Go Bananas appeal.

The charity dedicates its time to raising funds to buy specialist equipment for local disabled children when they can’t get it any other way.

Every year they run their Go Bananas appeal with a target to raise a huge amount of money and change the lives of children in need.

This year, five children have been selected to be the face of the campaign but hundreds more in the North East need the help of the public to make their lives a bit easier.

There’ll be plenty of fundraising events to get involved in throughout the month and the Sunshine Run is just one of them.

The long-standing event starts off on Newcastle’s Quayside taking runners along the Tyne finishing the race in Baltic Square in Gateshead after running across the Millennium Bridge.

Previous years have seen runners dressed as bananas and monkey’s to fit with the Go Bananas theme and the fund are encouraging the tradition to continue.

The race is registered with Run Britain so has been known to attract club runners looking for a personal best.

The charity’s patron Paralympian Stephen Miller, who once again start the race this year, said: “I’m delighted to be starting the Sunshine Run again this year, it’s a lovely fun event set in a beautiful part of Newcastle and Gateshead.

“The Sunshine Run always contributes important funds to the charity, funds that directly help disabled children and their families in this region.

“Hopefully there will be a good turn out and everyone will have a great time raising vital money for the Sunshine Fund- It is a charity very much close to my heart, as I know how much it helps and the difference it makes to people’s lives.”

Lauren Thompson, fundraiser for the Sunshine Fund, added: “We’re so excited for our 5K Sunshine Run, it’s one of our favourite events of the year. We love seeing familiar faces year after year taking part, especially the teams who enter!

“We’ re also thrilled to have intu Metrocentre and intu Eldon Square sponsoring the Go Bananas appeal and Sunshine Run again. A special thanks to Gateshead Harriers and Gateshead Council who are again supporting us in organising and managing the event.“

The Sunshine Run will take place on Wednesday June 20 at 7pm and is open to everyone over the age of 16 including individuals, club runners, fun runners and corporate teams.

To enter, please contact lauren.thompson@reachplc.com or call 0191 201 6090