TEAM MEMBERS: Sam Allport, Lorraine Arkless, Sarah Barker, Katie Chapman, Ian Craig, Holly Durham, Paul Durham, Gerry Docherty, Jane Fairclough, Caroline Godfrey, Isabel Godfrey, Kate Gosling, Alex Gordon, Isao Hara, May Henderson, Janet and Stephen Holman, David Howard, Ghada Khattab, Gillian King, Jane Lockett, Gill Main, Bridie McEntegart, Jim Moss, Chris Plant, Mandy Purdy, Anna Reppold, Craig Seago, Anthony Snowball, Rob Wilson, Stella Zindrou.

On 20th September 2009, we're all running the Great North Run in support of the North East Trust for Aphasia (NETA). The GNR is a half-marathon (13.1 miles) starting in Newcastle upon Tyne and ending out at the coast at South Shields. This year around 45,000 runners will be taking part.

We're all in one way or another associated with the Speech and Language Sciences Section at Newcastle University, and this is the seventh year that we have participated in the GNR to raise funds for NETA. In 2008 we beat our target of £10k, raising around £11,000. This year, our target again is £10,000. We're all training hard (relatively speaking!) and with your help we can reach our target.

Aphasia is the term for communication difficulties following neurological problems, most often stroke. People with aphasia can have problems speaking, understanding, reading and writing, often affecting social life, work and relationships. NETA is a north-east based charity - it is run by people with aphasia and their carers - set up to provide support for people with aphasia. The funds raised last year contributed substantially to the running of the NETA Aphasia Support Centre which opened in 2006 to provide support for people with aphasia and their carers. So, thank you for visiting our Great North Run fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor us online. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: the North East Trust for Aphasia will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor us now! Many thanks for your support.