Children’s Cancer North and Greggs celebrate 40 year fundraising partnership

Independent charity Children’s Cancer North and leading North East business Greggs celebrate a 40-year partnership in 2023 that has helped raise millions of pounds for individuals and families affected by childhood cancer.

This year marks 40 years of Greggs’ support for the Children’s Cancer Run, which has grown to become the UK’s biggest single charity fun run, attracting more than 10,000 runners and spectators. The 40th annual Children’s Cancer Run takes place on Sunday 14 May at Newcastle Racecourse.

Greggs has supported the run from the very first event in the early 1980s right through to the present day, helping to raise £8m to fund revolutionary research, provide support for children and families affected by childhood cancer, and raise awareness of disease, which is the number one cause of non-accidental death in young children in the UK.

Chris Peacock, Chair of Children’s Cancer North, said: “Greggs’ 40 year support for the Children’s Cancer Run is one of the reasons the event has become one of the most iconic and established in the region.

“People that ran as children are now running with their own families, and Greggs has been part of that journey from the very beginning.

“As a national brand with a proud North East heritage, Greggs invests in the community and shares our commitment to make life better for children with cancer.

“As well as helping to fund the delivery of the Children’s Cancer Run each year through a generous donation, Greggs’ wider support really adds to people’s experience on the day, making the Children’s Cancer Run a truly unique and special event.”

Every year, Greggs provides free snack packs for up to 10,000 runners. The company also provides a hospitality area for the 300-plus volunteers. In the weeks leading up to the Children’s Cancer Run, Greggs raises money for Children’s Cancer North through its stores in the North East and Cumbria, and encourages customers to take part.

On Sunday 14th May, Greggs Chief Executive, Roisin Currie, plans to participate in the run with 40 colleagues to commemorate the special 40th anniversary.

Roisin Currie said: “Since Greggs was founded, we have been committed to helping people in our local communities and we have always believed in sharing our success with others.

“In 2021 we launched our sustainability report, The Greggs Pledge, and further embedded our commitment to building stronger, healthier communities. Our proud 40 year partnership with Children’s Cancer North shows how this is a core part of our Greggs DNA.

“As a fantastic North-East based charity, whose positive impact can be seen far and wide, we are delighted once again to fund the delivery of the Children’s Cancer Run, as well as providing Greggs favourites to all the runners and volunteers.

“We are very excited for this year’s 40th anniversary event and I will be running the route myself, with a passionate team of 40 of our Greggs colleagues.

“Customers can do their bit too, by looking out for charity donation buckets in our North-East and Cumbria shops during May, and by also signing-up for the run, which is on Sunday 14th May.”

All sponsorship money raised from the event goes into funding revolutionary research at Newcastle University, providing support for children and their families on the children’s cancer wards at the Great North Children’s Hospital, and raising awareness of childhood cancer throughout the North East and Cumbria. Over the course of its 39-year history, the Children’s Cancer Run has raised £8m.

Entry for the 40th Children’s Cancer Run at Newcastle Racecourse on Sunday 14th May is open now at www.childrenscancerrun.co.uk. Early bird entry, which closes on Friday 31 March, costs £7 per child and £14 per adult, with special family rates enabling a 3rd child to go free.

Anyone that would like to share their stories, memories, pictures or footage from the Children’s Cancer Run can email [email protected].

Children’s Cancer North was formed in 2021 following the merging of North of England Children’s Cancer Research and Children’s Cancer Fund. The charity has raised over £40 million to support children with cancer in the North East and Cumbria since 1979.

Children’s Cancer North invests in revolutionary research, provides support for children and their families in the North East and Cumbria, and raises awareness of childhood cancer. It also funds early phase clinical trials and supports research to make treatments less harsh and more effective.

For more information about the Children’s Cancer Run and Children’s Cancer North, visit www.childrenscancernorth.org.uk.