Runners from across the UK joined forces in aid of our charity at this year’s Great North Run – with some incredible efforts by all ages in both the junior and adult races.
And as well as raising vital awareness for us, our runners raised a huge total of £5,561.
In a particularly moving tribute, Leona Dunbar took part in memory of our friend and colleague at The Fire Fighters Charity, Margaret Barnes Smith, who passed away recently.
Margaret was a valued member of our Fundraising Team for nearly 20 years. Based in Scotland, her engagement and fundraising activities made a lasting positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of our fire services community. Margaret was very well known, much appreciated and well respected within the fire services community and will be greatly missed by us all.
In tribute to her, Leona wrote the words “For Margaret” across her running vest and said after the race: “What an amazing Great North Run weekend. I met friends, chatted away and ate plenty of food. (Margaret would have wanted that).
“It was a hard run with the weather being so hot to start, thankfully I was in the beer tent sheltering and dancing when the heavens opened!
“I really just wanted to get into the spirit of the run, high 5 the kids and eat ice lollies. Again, Margaret would have loved that
“I cried at the end, cried for Margaret and the amazing human we have lost, but know she would have been there with me in spirit yesterday as I ran walked and danced.”
Leona was joined by more of our wonderful supporters on the day, all of whom took part for their own personal reasons. Here are just a few more of them:
They did it! It was incredibly hot, but they absolutely smashed it. Over £400 raised for @firefighters999 and still time to sponsor if you want to help them reach their £500 target. So proud!#JuniorGNRhttps://t.co/lPYuk8tLq0 pic.twitter.com/4TcNvNGIKV
— Lydia Nelson (@Glamupnorth) September 9, 2023
