Charity is under starter’s orders as city runs partner
A Sunderland health charity is hitting the road to raise funds.
The Red Sky Foundation, which campaigns to install community defibrillators across the North East, has joined forces with the organisers of this year’s Sunderland City Runs.
The foundation will be the officialcharitypartnerforthe 5K, 10K and half marathon events to be held on the weekend and May 7 and 8 and will fielddozensofrunnersforthe three races.
The races, which will kick off a summer of major sporting events in the city, will see participantsfromseriousclub athletestofunrunners,tackle routes taking in many iconic Sunderland landmarks, with the 10K and half marathon starting and finishing alongside Keel Square.
SergioandEmmaPetrucci setuptheRedSkyFoundation after their daughter Luna underwent life-saving heart surgery, initially raising money forhospitalequipmentbefore branching out into providing defibrillators in the community.
Sergio said he was delighted that the Foundation had become the official charity partner for the city runs: “I can’t want to see all of our fundraisers in action,” he said. “The timing is ideal – we can highlight the importance of having easy access to community defibrillators just as weareabouttoinstalladevice at City Hall.
"It is really encouraging that Sunderland City Council
recognisestheneedtoencourage people to get more active, while also ensuring community defibriallors are readily to hand.”
Craig Hanson, 58, knows only too well how critical easy accesstodefibrillatorscanbe. His life was saved by two of his neighbours when he suffered a cardiac arrest in December – one of whom used a Red Sky Foundation defibrillator.
"I died and came back to life,” said Craig, from Cleadon. “My heart stopped and I stopped breathing.
"One neighbour performed CPR while the other usedthedefibrillator.TheCPR kept the blood flowing to my brain until the defibrillator was able to restart my heart.
"Without the Red Sky Foundation, I would not be alive today. I am living proof that quick access to a defibrillator can save lives.”
Sunderland City Council leader Cllr Graeme Miller urged everyone to get active this summer: “The Sunderland City Runs mark the start of a really exciting summer of
major sporting events in our city , which we are hoping will inspire more people to get active and enjoy all the fantastic physical and mental health benefits that this brings with it,” he said.
“We know from our recent Let’s Talk events consultation that our residents are really keen on events that they can take part in as well as attend with friends and family.
"TheActiveSunderland3k on the Sunday morning and SunderlandCityRunsonboth Saturday evening and Sunday
are the perfect opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to have a brilliant couple of days out by getting involved in really enjoyable and worthwhile events or coming along to cheer the runners on.
“I’m also thrilled to see the Red Sky Foundation being named as the event’s charity partner. Their work to bring life-savingdefibrillatorsincity centrelocationshasbeentruly inspirational.”
Entriesarenowopenforall of the events at www.sunderlandcity10k.com