Success and celebration for Team St Oswald’s in the 2024 Great North Run

Last weekend saw the famous Great North Run return to Tyneside and St Oswald’s Hospice was brilliantly represented, with a team of over 400 runners taking part. Always a highlight of our annual fundraising events calendar, 2024 was no different, with a fantastic atmosphere, lots of camaraderie and best of all, no thunderstorms like last year!

The sun shone for Super Saturday as our younger runners took part in the Mini and Junior Great North Run on the Newcastle/Gateshead Quayside. As always, our young runners did us proud, taking to the course with enthusiasm, to huge cheers from the crowd. Our team of volunteers were ready and waiting to welcome back and congratulate our runners with their St Oswald’s Hospice goodie bag and certificate.

Sunday saw the adults take over, as they laced up their running shoes ready conquer the iconic half marathon. The day started out a little soggy, but spirits were not dampened on the route and at the finish line. Volunteers, staff and friends were scattered along the course, bringing extra encouragement to our team, and of course the wonderfully talented musicians, Igbo North East OFUOBI Men’s Cultural Group were at their usual spot at mile 4.5, to give the runners a boost!

On finishing their run, our team were invited to the St Oswald’s Hospice tent in the charity village where they enjoyed plenty of tea and biscuits kindly provided by Ringtons. Other sweet treats were available too, including delicious cupcakes and tray bakes made by our volunteers Win, Eleanor and Eileen, along with a selection of snacks from Morrisons, Asda, Bobby’s Foods and Templeman Retailing and Vending .

There were many tired limbs in need of some TLC but luckily we had a team of massage therapists on hand to offer their expertise. Thanks to Paul Simpson from Feel the Knead Sports and Regular Massage Therapy, Sheila from Elements of Wellbeing, Jill Summers from Soul Sister Stress Buster, Tony Dunn from Momentum Sports Injury Clinic and Claire Turton for giving their time and skills to support our runners.

We’d like to say thank you to all of our supporters, volunteers and team on the day who helped make it an event to remember and a special shout out to ScS, who sponsored our running vests again this year.

The biggest thanks of all goes out to all of our Team St Oswald’s runners who have trained, participated and fundraised for the hospice. You’ve all done something amazing for the patients and families who need us and we’re so proud of each and every one of you. It was brilliant to be part of your Great North Run 2024.