Welcome to my Great North Run Fundraising page for 2019.  As I have clearly stated for at least the past ten years, this will be my last Great North Run.  But this time I mean it.  Really honestly.  Not least because, with my senior railcard (how did that happen?), I can now afford to take the train from Newcastle to South Shields.  Although it may still be quicker to run.  I know… (lightbulb moment)… I’ll get a bike – then I can get there quicker, with less stress on my joints, whilst thinking of other fundraising activities for the future.  Great North cycle ride, coast-to-coast, Tour de Northumberland?

Anyway, this is really it for now.  So please make my last Great North Run my most successful so far.  As ever, it is for a great cause – although some of you may not recognise the charity because there has been a name change in the past 12 months – to Versus Arthritis – following the merger of Arthritis Research UK with Arthritis Care.  This is great news because, combining the qualities and missions of both charities means that Versus Arthritis has a greater reach, benefiting more patients in even more ways than before.

So please, please dig deep. I can pretty much guarantee that my 15^th successive Great North Run will be more painful for me than donating is for you.  (I hope they work out how to regenerate hips
soon….). Thank you so much, from me and from Versus Arthritis.

Millions of people wake up with arthritis every morning and face the day in pain, without the support and recognition they deserve. Arthritis attacks what it means to live and people with arthritis are often left to manage alone.Versus Arthritis invests in breakthrough treatments, the best information and vital support for everyone affected by arthritis. Please sponsor me so that together we can overcome the pain, isolation and fatigue of arthritis.