The Great North Run, one of the UK’s most iconic half-marathons, returned with a splash, as thousands of runners from across the globe descended upon Newcastle and Gateshead. The event saw runners conquering 13.1 miles of terrain, battling both physical exhaustion and unrelenting rain. Among the dedicated participants were our 7 dedicated charity runners who were determined to make a difference while braving the elements. We managed to catch up with 2 of them to talk about their experience.
Jessica Dyer, from Kier Group, shared her enthusiasm for the event despite the challenging weather. She said, “Thank you very much to the Lighthouse Charity for providing running spaces on the Great North Run. Sunday was a fantastic atmosphere and the best way to do my first half marathon event – the rain certainly didn’t stop our high spirits! It was great to see so many people supporting different charities and to have crowds cheer you on throughout. I have enjoyed fundraising for the Lighthouse Charity to highlight the excellent work you all do to support construction workers and their families!”
Our charity was represented by several runners who aimed to raise awareness and funds for their cause. Rachel Middleton, another Lighthouse Charity runner, spoke passionately about her motivation for participating in the race. “This was my second Great North Run but the first in a few years. I decided to run for the Lighthouse Charity as I work within the construction and FM industry and I wanted to help raise funds to support the work they do and help those in the construction industry talk about how they are feeling and get help when they need it.”
Rachel’s dedication to the cause was evident in her impressive performance, as she completed the race in 2 hours and 49 minutes, her personal best. She also shared her thoughts on the race, saying, “The race was great fun with an amazing atmosphere. The weather was very warm but made up for it after the race with an unrivalled downpour. Thank you for letting me run for you.”
Despite the challenging weather conditions, the spirit of the Great North Run prevailed, with runners from all backgrounds and abilities pushing through to reach the finish line.
