Celebrating our fun run’s anniversary 20 years on from start

HELLO Sunshine News readers.

With less than three weeks to go until our annual Sunshine Run 5K (eek!), and since this year is extra special as it’s the 20th anniversary of the fun run, we thought it would be a great opportunity to take a look back at this spectacular event throughout the ages.

We’re so excited for this celebration and we already have lots of runners signed up. Online registration closes next week, so now is the time to sign up! Visit https:// racebest.com/races/usckw to secure your place.

The Sunshine Run was first held in 2002, and the Sunshine Fund has worked closely with Gateshead Harriers’ Tony Gardner since it began. Speaking to Tony about how the run came to be, he explained how he ‘spoke to Chris Betts whose idea it was to link up with the Sunshine Fund to create a fundraising race.’

Tony went on to say: “Chris presented the plan to Gateshead Harriers Committee (I was chairman at the time), and we approved the plan. It was agreed that we would do all the necessary things to get a licence, get the course measured by an approved UK Athletics course measurer and approach the safety advisory groups of Newcastle and Gateshead.

“The Sunshine Fund would be part of the meetings and would do the publicity.

“It is fair to say that this successful pattern was repeated each year until Covid lockdowns made it impossible. We returned last year to a slightly different course rather than pay for the use of Baltic Square and lose hundreds of pounds. I estimate that approximately a quarter of a million pounds has been raised thanks to the Sunshine Fund, Gateshead Harriers, the volunteers and, of course, the athletes”.

Martin Solomon, our ex-chair of trustees, has taken part in the run multiple times and even sponsored the event in the past through law firm Hay & Kilner. The firm continues to support the event by registering a team each year.

Martin said: “It has always been a thoroughly enjoyable fun run – on a superb North East location to raise funds for a great charity to help North East children with dis