You can't keep a good man down and fresh from having walked 100 miles this summer for local children's charities in Leeds, Great Britain and Leeds legend Barrie McDermott is off again, this time looking to complete the BUPA Great North Run on Sunday 30th September.
Barrie will be joined on the run by the Rhinos Media Manager Phil Daly and the pair are raising funds for local charity Leeds Mencap.
Leeds Mencap work to improve the lives and opportunities of children and adults with a learning disability and their families and carers. They run the Hawthorn Family Support Centre, , which is set to benefit from the proceeds raised from the Great North Run.
The centre, the only one of its kind in , provides support for 23 families of disabled children aged up to three.
Kate Grimshaw, fundraiser for Leeds Mencap, said: “This is a huge morale boost for every connected with Mencap. As well as the Hawthorn Centre we operate a residential home for 12 adults in Chapel Allerton as well as youth clubs and play schemes across .”

Leeds Mencap is a local charity run exclusively for and by the people of .  They provide vital services for children and adults with a learning disability and their parents and carers.  Although affiliated with Mencap they are not funded by the national group so rely on local donations and sponsorship entirely.

Their services include the Hawthorn family support centre for children from 0-3 with a learning disability.  The children are cared for in a playroom while their parents have the opportunity to speak to other parents who face similar issues in the first few years of their child’s life.  One parent said:  “Hawthorns gave me support, a place to relax, and it became the highlight of our week.  No one made any funny comments they just accepted us and then we started going to a local mums and tots group and I was strong enough to cope!”

Leeds Mencap run a residential home for 12 adults and various youth clubs and playschemes amongst other activities. 

For more ideas visit our website www.leedsmencap.org.uk or get in touch with Kate Grimshaw kate.grimshaw@leedsmencap.org.uk 0113 2351331

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