In June 2025 Colin Bell passed away after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. In his final days he was cared for at the wonderful Willow Burn hospice in County Durham. The care that Colin and the family received was exceptional.

Colin was a keen runner and liked nothing more than a lunchtime run or getting his trainers on for a competitive event. He completed the Great North Run many times and really did think that is showed off his beloved North East and its people at their very best.

On the 13 September 2026 members of Colin’s family; Matthew, Tyrone and Andrew will be running the GNR raising funds for Willow Burn.

Willow Burn is a small hospice and community hub, which was founded over thirty years ago by two local women who recognised a need for improved end of life care for residents of rural County Durham.

The aim at Willow Burn is to relieve physical and emotional distress, control symptoms and provide care, comfort and compassion at the end of life. They achieve this through a range of holistic day care, in-patient and family support and bereavement counselling services.

The hospice is located in Lanchester, County Durham and has been purpose-built to provide a homely, welcoming environment, placing significant emphasis on an individual's dignity, privacy and comfort. The services have been developed over the last 30 years by listening and responding to the needs of the patients, their carers and the people who need this local service.