The Great North Run is the largest event in NETA's annual fundraising calendar. We have a fantastic team of 20 runners collecting sponsorship. Please read their individual stories and support them.

Aphasia, (or dysphasia) means problems with communication (speaking, understanding, reading, writing). Such difficulties often arise after stroke or other brain trauma. About 130,000 people in Britain have a stroke each year (Office of National Statistics) and it is generally accepted that a third of these are left with some form of aphasia. Aphasia has a sudden and profound effect on the person, their family and friends. It impacts on the individual’s confidence, personal relationships, employment and social life. NETA is a charity which aims to support people in the North East with aphasia and their families. NETA does this by funding the NETA Aphasia Support Centre, which offers long term support to people with aphasia, offering opportunities to take part in a variety of groups. NETA also aims to raise awareness of aphasia in the general public as too few people understand what aphasia means.

As speech and language therapy students, Rachel and Gemma know what good work NETA does, and wanted to lend a helping hand by running their first ever half marathon. They have roped in their Mum, Helen (who also ran last year), and their friend, Maria, to help them out.