It was a day of sunshine and smiles as around 10,000 runners took part in the Children's Cancer Run on Sunday as it celebrated its 40-year anniversary.
The huge event, hosted at Newcastle Racecourse, was a whole day of action, with a series of runs - a pick of one, three or five miles - setting off in stages around the grounds and raising vital money for local charity Children's Cancer North which organises it.
Among the wide mix of ages were regulars at the run which to date has raised a remarkable £8m to help support youngsters with cancer and their families but there were lots of first-timers too, including fundraisers whose lives have been directly hit by cancer. One, Lucy Smith, just 12, completed the run with her dad James and explained that she just wanted to "give back" after the help she had received during her own cancer treatment.
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Lucy, who was diagnosed with a type of leukaemia in 2020, was treated at the RVI and is now in remission. She said: "I just want to help out - I'm so grateful that they helped me out so much when I was poorly and I think it's a nice thing to go back and help out them." Her dad said, living nearby, they now hope to come back every year, adding: "It's been a fabulous turnout."
The run was also a first time for 27-year-old Anna Peel who was taking part with young nephew Joe, who had received a cancer diagnosis in 2021 but is now clear of the disease. She has already done other fundraisers, including Kielder Marathon and a bungee jump and has a skydive to come later this year, by which time she expects to have raised a massive total of £10,000 for Children's Cancer North.
"I would take on practically anything to help raise money," said Lucy, from Shotley Bridge in County Durham. She told of the kind of support the charity offered her family when Joe, now nearly four, was diagnosed.
"They helped at a time we were helpless and didn't know what to do, what to expect and how to handle it, with the cancer treatment and chemotherapy. You've got somebody there to ask questions of and it's good to have that support.
"Joe had a tumour on his kidney which he had to get removed and had nine months of chemotherapy. But he got to ring the bell last year and is now cancer clear."
Joe was at her side during their mile-long run, which his eight-year-old sister Lola also completed, and was tucking into a treat afterwards, as all participants received a medal and goody bag. Anna said: "I didn't expect Joe to run the whole mile.
"It made me well up a little bit - after seeing him with no hair, I couldn't believe he ran the whole thing but he said 'I will do this.'"
She added of the event, which included lots of post-run attractions such as toddlers' fairground rides, a football game area, costume characters, food and drink stalls and even a massage area for weary limbs: "It's absolutely fantastic.
"I wasn't expecting it to be as busy as it is - and we got the weather for it. It's been absolutely great."
Chris Peacock, chairman of Children's Cancer North, who was also preparing to take part - as usual - called it "an incredible day" which was set to see around 10,000 people in total pass the finish line. The event is always an important fundraiser for the charity and, this being its 40-year anniversary, he said it has a "bit of an eighties theme".
The racecourse was a sea of orange charity shirts as the runs got under way and, with the sun staying out, the groups of families and friends, many with toddlers and dogs in tow, were keen to hang around after their run to enjoy picnics on the grass as loud speaker commentary and music added to the afternoon's atmosphere.
Hayley Birtwistle, from Gosforth, was accompanied by family including daughter Etta, son Austin and her sister's family who were among the picnickers. She said she had carried Etta, who's nearly three, for part of the route but "she ran way more than I expected. I'm so proud of her".
She called the event "amazing", adding: "We love it." They are always keen to take part she said as "my husband is a trustee of Children's Cancer North and he had childhood cancer." She added: "We always come together every year; it's a good day out."
Among another family groups enjoying the day were youngsters Anisha, Mohitha, Akshara and Aditi, aged nine to 11, who said their favourite part of their three-mile route was through the woods because it gave them some shade. They added that they had wanted to take part "to help people with cancer and for the people who lose their hair to make it easier and to help with that".
Terri Leitch, who had just finished the run with six-year-olds Lily Watson and Emilia Umeh, said she had joined in as a show of support with Dinnington Primary School in Newcastle which takes part every year and which lost a young pupil to cancer. Terri said she'd done the run with the kids "just because they needed to be accompanied by an adult!" but they were glad to help the good cause.
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