Hospice holds its own virtual Great North Run

An Olympic star is getting behind a hospice’s fundraising campaign after a number of events were cancelled.

Aly Dixon is encouraging people to run their own Great North Run distance of 13.1 miles to help raise money for Sunderland’s St Benedict Hospice.

Although the hospice does receive NHS funding, it relies heavily on the efforts of the hospice charity.

A number of it major fundraising events have been cancelled this year due to the coronaviruspandemic,including the Great North Run which saw dozens of people take part to raise money for it.

Now Aly, who is a hospice ambassador, and hospice officials are looking to enlist fundraiserstotakeonthechallenge of completing the run’s 13.1 miles in the week that would have been the build up to the Great North Run.

They have created a free to enter event where every finisher will receive a hand signed certificate from Aly, as well as encouraging fundraising which includes chances to win some of Aly’s special running memorabilia, including herworldrecord50kmtrophy.

Anyonewhowantstogetinvolved in the challenge should visit www.stbenedicts.co.uk/ fundraising/events or email Anthony.mcdermott@stft. nhs.uk

Anthony McDermott, head of challenge events at St Benedict’s, said: “It’s amazing how the general public have continued to support the Hospice over these recent challenging times and with the cancellationoftheGreatNorthRunand manyotherkeyevents,wehave anevenbiggerholetofillinrevenue we have lost.

"Anyone who’s looking for a bit of a challenge and who could raise some money along the way, we’d love to hear from you!”