Teesside lads prepare for Great North Run

There is just over a month to go before the world's biggest half-marathon,

Runners are getting prepared for the Great North Run, which takes place in September,

We have been hearing the stories of some of the runners - including Dom Smith and his brother Jonathon, from Loftus.

The pair are running for Teesside Hospice - who cared for their grandma;

“She was a real fighter, and I think we’re trying to take some of what made her who she was into the training for the run because it really is important to stress that neither me nor Jonathan are natural athletes, you know, we’ve never done any running before really!

Dom explains her struggles growing up will hopefully inspire them as they take on the race;

“It in no way compares, but I think when we’re trying to sweat out that 13th mile we will be thinking of her, the sacrifices she made and the things she had to overcome, we realise we were really lucky to have known her.

The boys are hoping the money they raise from the race will help the Hospice care for others the same way they cared for Dom and Jonathan’s grandmother.

Dom tells us the Great North Run also means a lot to him, as it’s a return to Newcastle;

“I went to university in Newcastle and I lived there for many years, you’d see the fuss that was made of the Great North Run every year – people coming out and supporting all the runners and it just looks incredible.

“I’ve spoken to so many people who’ve done it before and they say how amazing it is and the support you get is incredible and we just want to experience that.

You can read more of their story on their Fundraising page.

The Great North Run takes place on Saturday 10th September