Runners’ applause tribute for Bradley

THIS year’s Simplyhealth Great North 10K started with an emotional tribute to Bradley Lowery as more than 5,000 runners held a minute’s applause in honour of the brave youngster.

The participants were ready at the start line behind Gateshead International Stadium when a special announcement was made about the courageous six-year-old, who lost his battle against cancer on Friday.

Applause then rang out across the route before FA Vase winners South Shields FC sounded the horn to start the event.

Participants streamed past the Sage Gateshead, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, before crossing the finish line inside the stadium, with their family and friends cheering from the stands.

Many of the runners were raising money for a variety of causes, from cancer charities to groups that support war heroes.

Kevin Clarke, 45, from Washington, was dressed in the colours of the Union Flag as well as the stars and stripes of America. He was raising money for Help for Heroes but also paid tribute to Bradley with a message on his back saying: “Let’s remember little Bradley Lowery’s smile and run for him in his memory. RIP Bradley, the North East’s own little Angel of the North and superhero.” Kevin said: “I am planning to run 42,000 miles across the USA next year and am doing today’s run for Help for Heroes.

“But I wanted to remember Bradley as well, who touched everybody’s heart.”

Also taking part was Anna Wright, from Morpeth, Northumberland, whose baby son Samuel suffered a brain injury during birth and, as a result, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

He was resuscitated for 23 minutes and put on to a ventilator for six days, with his chances of survival being slim. The youngster pulled through, but the muscles in his body were affected, leaving him unable to walk, talk or eat.

Despite making huge progress, including learning to sit independently, learning to crawl and stand, Samuel, who is now two, relies on being tube-fed and cannot talk.

Although there is no cure for the condition, Anna and her husband Jonathan have spent thousands of pounds for Samuel to have private cutting-edge therapies and equipment to help him progress.

The family are now trying to raise funds to send Samuel to America to undergo therapy at the Neurological And Physiological Abilitation Centre in Los Angeles, which specialises in feeding and speech techniques not available in the UK. Anna, 36, a university lecturer, said: “I decided to enter the event as I used to run quite a lot before my Samuel was born.

“After Samuel’s birth I found it very difficult to get back into running, both physically after having two children, but also emotionally, as the thought of having space to think while out running terrified me.

“I decided I should face my fears and channel some of Samuel’s determination and get running again.

“Now I find that, actually, it is starting to help me mentally again to run. I am hoping that the 10k will motivate me and also I’ll hopefully be able to raise funds for Samuel and his ongoing treatments.”

Meanwhile, Colin

Burgin-Plews, who regularly runs races wearing heavy colourful dresses, was back at the track. He put a smile on people’s faces with his twostone floor-length frock, and helped to raise cash for Breast Cancer Now.

The 49-year-old, from South Shields, said: “We held a school competition asking children to design the dress I should wear at the race, and this was the winning design.

“It weighs around two stones and it’s very warm, but I’m a chef so I’m used to the heat.

“I’ve taken part in a lot of runs but the North East ones are always the best – they have a fantastic atmosphere.”