This year, I’m taking on something big — the Great North Triple: the Great North Swim, Great North Bike Ride, and Great North Run.

Turning 40 has made me reflect on health, gratitude, and the value of community. After working through a few personal health scares, I feel stronger and more motivated than ever. And with that, I’ve decided to channel that energy into something meaningful — supporting three brilliant Northern charities that have each played a role in my life and deserve all the support they can get.

PLEASE DONATE TO ALL THREE AS WE WOULD LIKE TO RAISE AND EQUAL AMOUNT FOR ALL CHARITIES (the system made me set it up this split way lol)

🎗️ The Chris Lucas Trust

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Great North Bike Ride, the flagship fundraising event for the Chris Lucas Trust — so riding it as part of my Great North Triple feels especially meaningful. It brings everything full circle.

When I was 16, I took part in a Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge in-store at Nike — cycling the full distance in stages, together with colleagues, on an exercise bike to raise money for the newly formed Chris Lucas Trust. We were too young to ride on the roads, but we wanted to do something. I worked alongside Chris’s brother, David, and it was the first time I truly experienced what community can do when it comes together with heart and purpose.

Around the same time, another friend’s family was also deeply affected by the same cancer — rhabdomyosarcoma. This indirect exposure to cancer was the first time I had witnessed how far the ripples extend. Even if you’re not the one receiving the diagnosis, the impact reaches every part of life — families, friendships, futures.

Even at that early stage, you could feel how much the Chris Lucas Trust meant to those involved — and it’s amazing to see that all these years later, they are still fighting cancer with unwavering energy and purpose. Their work funds vital research and gives real hope to families facing the unimaginable.

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🚁 The Great North Air Ambulance

We often spot the air ambulance flying overhead on our family adventures — sometimes in the most remote spots where regular help simply couldn’t reach. That familiar buzz brings peace of mind.

This service is powered by volunteers, donations, and sheer determination. They show up in the toughest conditions, to do the hardest work — and they rely on people like us to keep flying.

We also know personally the sacrifices that go into this kind of work — from friends who give up their precious time, miss family moments, and put themselves in danger to help others. Their selflessness is humbling, and it's a reminder that behind every mission is a real person making a real difference.

It’s also a charity that’s close to my heart for another reason — my late nanna was a proud supporter of the Great North Air Ambulance. Carrying that connection forward in this challenge feels incredibly special.

🏛️ Cullercoats Watch House

And of course, it would be rude not to include the third charity: the incredible Cullercoats Watch House. This striking building stands proudly on our coast — not as a relic of the past, but as a living, breathing point of community connection and safety.

I volunteer as Chair of the charity and have been involved in the Watch House as a user and Trustee for the past three years. In that time, I’ve seen first-hand how powerful this place is. The people you meet — volunteers, members, supporters — will all tell you the same thing: once you’ve visited, you’ll never want to leave. It’s that captivating.

The Watch House is not owned or controlled by one entity — it is shaped by the needs and wants of the people. It serves as a sanctuary, a shared space, and a symbol of what we can do when we care for something together. From heritage events to quiet moments of reflection, it holds space for everyone.

To help ensure this continues into the future, internal renovations are now desperately needed. These improvements will open up the building to even more users, making it more accessible and versatile for generations to come.

Supporting this cause means backing a space that truly belongs to the whole community — past, present, and future.

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Why This Challenge, and Why Now?

Completing the Great North Triple isn’t just about miles covered — it’s about moments remembered, causes supported, and communities uplifted.

Whether you can donate, share, or simply cheer me on — I’d be so grateful.

Let’s make this year count. For the people who help, the people who heal, and the places that hold us.

Thank you.

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If you'd like to join me on a training dip, run, or ride — get in touch!

Email me at nicola@shore.yoga or sign up yourself and come along!