Many people across Newcastle Diocese played their part in this year’s highly successful Great North Run.
Churches along the route opened their doors to offer prayer, support and supplies to the 60,000 competitors, while the diocese was represented by several runners who took part in aid of worthy causes.
Among them was Bishop Helen-Ann, who raised vital funds for Newcastle Foodbank, of which she is a patron.
“Wow, what an amazing day,” said the Bishop on X. “Well done everyone!”
Bishop Helen-Ann was delighted to receive encouragement at the start of the race from two of her running heroes, Great North Run founder and Olympian Sir Brendan Foster, and BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth, who like our Bishop is a dedicated long-distance runner.
Leanne Conway-Wilcox (pictured above left), who is part of the Diocesan Generous Giving Team, received her finisher’s medal after competing for United 24, which works to support Ukraine in a variety of ways, including medical aid and rebuilding devastated communities.
Elaine Breen, Diocesan Finance Assistant (pictured bottom left) joined the race with her nephews as part of ‘Team Breen’ running in support of Prostate Cancer UK.
Davi and Isabel (pictured right), who attend St George’s Jesmond, took part in support of Animal Free Research UK, and the National Autistic Society.
John Laws (pictured left), churchwarden at St Cuthbert’s Blyth, was sponsored by parishes in Bedlington Deanery to compete in the Great North Run alongside his daughter Joanne. Monies raised will be used to develop ministry outreach opportunities across the deanery.
Sharon Williams (pictured right), a reader at Morpeth Parish and volunteer hospital chaplain, ran the race with her daughter Rachel to raise funds for Bright Northumbria, a charity that supports their local NHS by providing facilities for patients and their families, as well as offering support to staff. So far, they have raised over £1,000!
St Thomas’ and St Luke’s churches in Newcastle used their close proximity to the route to support runners before they reached the start line, covering all bases to ensure they were prepared for the 13.1 miles which lay ahead.
St Thomas’ hosted a Great North Run café, offering tea, coffee and much needed toilet facilities. The church said it was lots of fun and “so nice to meet many lovely people and have some great conversations.”
St Luke’s set up a support station on Claremont Road (pictured below right), offering water, sweets and other essentials, including plasters and safety pins for race numbers, as well as tea, coffee and toilet facilities.
The Revd Adam Smith said: “We had a prayer station and in terms of interactions, we prayed with about 100 individuals directly. Half of those people were not church goers and some of them had questions about whether they believe in God at all.
“Nobody refused prayer. I asked them that if at any level they achieved what they were praying for, they go and find their local church. People were saying that if they achieved their personal best, or if a particular injury didn’t trouble them, that they would go certainly go and ask questions. It was very much worthwhile and we already have a few ideas about how we can improve things for next year.”
Others from Newcastle Diocese who took part in the Great North Run include: The Revd Dan McCarthy (Holy Cross Fenham), the Revd Phil Medley (Walker Parish Church), the Revd Claire Lewis (St Mary’s Monkseaton), the Revd Lee Kirkby (St Thomas’ Newcastle) and Joel Barwick (St Thomas’ Newcastle).
A very well done to everyone!