Our beloved Sunshine Run 5K returns to the Quayside for its 21st anniversary!

Hi Sunshine News Readers,

We’re all very excited here at Team Sunshine this week as we finally announce the return of our much-loved Sunshine Run 5K! We’re delighted to be bringing our iconic race back to Newcastle Quayside on Wednesday, June 19 for its 21st year! We’ve teamed up with our incredible friends and long-term supporters, Stagecoach, who will be sponsoring our event for the 4th year running.

The route is flat and fast and suitable for all capabilities and we encourage runners of all abilities to join us; whether you’re an elite club runner looking to smash your personal best, or if you’re a fun runner or complete newbie looking for a fun way of supporting a small, local charity! All runners receive a t-shirt and medal, as well as chip timing to provide accurate results.

To register your place, please visit https://entry.eventsupnorth.co.uk/races/gfctk. Online entry closes on Wednesday, June 5, and while we accept late and on-the-night registrations, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that late runners will receive a t-shirt, medal or chip timing.

ANNIVERSARY RUN: Join the Sunshine Fund for their Sunshine Run

We don’t ask participants to set a fundraising target (although additional fundraising is always welcomed and encouraged!), you just need to pay the entry fee which is £22 for standard entry, or £20 for affiliated club runner entry. All proceeds help us continue to support local children living with disabilities, additional needs and terminal illness.

Here at The Sunshine Fund, we believe that every child deserves the same opportunities to reach their full potential and lead an enriched life. We do this by funding specialist and adapted equipment to children in the North East region to support their day-to-day lives, and to encourage wellbeing. Taking part in events like the Sunshine Run allows you to have a direct positive impact on improving the lives of local babies, children, young adults and their families.

SUNSHINE RUN: The Weymes Family, who have been supported by The Sunshine Fund, racing in last year’s Sunshine Run (Image: Angela Carrington BA(Hons)CPP/The Bigger Picture Agency Ltd)

We’ve been super busy behind the scenes at Sunshine HQ and are pleased to say that everything is nearly finalised and it’s set to be a fantastic event! We’re proud that this event is always popular, and that so many of our loyal followers love it as much as we do, which is why we haven’t changed too much this year… if it ain’t broke and all that. However, we do have lots in store for the night and we can’t wait to share these across our socials in the coming weeks!

After her successful first year of hosting the event in 2023, we’re delighted to have the lovely Asha from Danceversity back to host the evening! And long-term friend-of-the-charity, Stephen Miller MBE will return to start the race.

FLASHBACK: Asha Thomas and Stephen Miller MBE 2023 (Image: Angela Carrington BA(Hons)CPP/The Bigger Picture Agency Ltd)

We’ll have live music from the North Tyneside Steel Band, who always create a fabulous atmosphere for both runners and spectators alike, and we’ll also be joined by some newer supporters as the group at NE Gospel Choir will be heading down to sing some sunshine-themed songs to build momentum for our runners. This is before a warm-up which, for the first year, will be led by a long-term Sunshine cheerleader, Vicky, who races for Team Sunshine in the GNR year upon year!

ON THE RUN: Shots from our previous Sunshine Runs

We can’t wait to share even more as more is yet to be announced, but until then, let’s get as many people signed up so we can #PaintTheTOONYellow this June, all in aid of improving the lives of local disabled children.

Do it alone, with friends or family, or why not get a team of colleagues involved and come straight from work!

Visit https://entry.eventsupnorth.co.uk/races/gfctk to register and please do follow our socials @sunshinefund and share to reach as many people as possible!

To discuss group bookings and corporate teams, or for any further enquiries, please contact Sophie.Revell@thesunshinefund.org.

Thanks for reading,

Sophie X