Members of #TeamActionFoundation braved record breaking heat and then horrendous downpours in yesterday’s Great North Run as they pounded the streets in support of refugees and asylum seekers.
Kevin Higgins (top left in photo collage) was the first man home for Action Foundation, crossing the finish line in an impressive 1 hour, 39 minutes. Hot on his heels was Bryn De Ivey (third from left) who came in at one hour 44.
First female finisher for our charity was medical student, Jemima Thursz, (right in bottom left picture with friend, Megan Owens) who took just one hour, 51 minutes to run the 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields.
It was Kevin’s first ever Great North Run, although he does run regularly with Gosforth Social Running group. He said:
“It was a great atmosphere with supporters out all the way. It was very warm but as you got nearer the coast it cooled down.”
Former Business Development Manager with Action Foundation, Abi Walker (second from left in top row with fiance Ross Gordon) was also doing the GNR for the first time.
She said: “I’m so pleased to have completed my first ever GNR to raise money for Action Foundation! The run was tough at times but so much fun – the crowd and atmosphere really do keep you going.
“There was an amazing community spirit and it was brilliant to see so many charities represented. I don’t think it’ll be my last Great North Run!”
Paul Foster, Chief Executive of the Great Run Company said yesterday’s GNR was ‘the hottest Great North Run on record’. There was also a huge downpour later in the afternoon where 30-50 mm of rain fell in the space of an hour, which resulted in flash flooding and meant many runners had a very difficult journey home because of Metros being unable to function.
We are really grateful to ALL Action Foundation runners for taking part in such trying conditions. So far, they have raised more than £8,600 to support people seeking sanctuary in the North East.
And it’s not too late to help them boost that total – here are links to their individual fundraising pages:
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/ben-kirkman
https://greatnorthrun.enthuse.com/pf/rhysandgeorgiegnr
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/tom-patterson
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/celia-bouch-7d459
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/kevin-higgins
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/will-addington
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/bryn-de-ivey
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/edward-anderson
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/jemima-thursz
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/megan-owens
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/peter-mitchell
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/sophie-pitches
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/david-wozniak
https://greatnorthrun2023.enthuse.com/pf/stephanie-brown-9d18a
