The North East's Biggest and Best 10k, the Great North 10k, Returns This Sunday Sold Out Event with 10,000 Runners to Take on Iconic City Centre Route

10,000 runners will join the start line of the Sold-Out AJ Bell Great Noth 10k this Sunday, 6 July.

This year’s event is the biggest yet, with a milestone 10,000 runners signed up, a big leap from last year – proving the running boom – driven by the under 35 and 25 categories, is still going strong.

This Sunday the AJ Bell Great North 10k will start and finish at the Great North Road, and is all set to showcase a fantastic turn out for the North East.

The same supportive crowds, but bigger, will be lining the city centre route, on course entertainment and fun filled event village to greet participants post run on the Town Moor.

We’re proud to be partnering with the Newcastle United Foundation for a third year, and we are of course joined once again by thousands of inspiring participants, see selection of stories shared below.

Paul Foster, Chief Executive of The Great Run Company, said: “This Sunday will be our biggest Great North 10k to date, with 10,000 participants joining us for the Sold Out event in Newcastle. First held in 2009, the Great North 10k has grown to become another major running event in the North East, with the city centre route showcasing Newcastle's iconic landmarks.

“It's a run for everyone and we look forward to welcoming runners of all ages & abilities, from the top club athletes battling it out at the front to those taking on the 10k for a personal challenge, for fun, or to fundraise.

"The event is in prime position in the calendar to mark the countdown to the world famous Great North Run, which is now just two months away, with thousands using the 10k as part of their training for the Great North Run.”

Steve Beharall, Newcastle United Foundation CEO, said: “We are excited that there will be 500 people setting off together in our NUF black and white wave.

“This is our third year partnering with the Great North 10k, and the fundraising, crowd support, and community spirit is always amazing.

“The fundraising people do for us is incredibly important to us, their funds help us further our charity work across the North East through education, employability, sport and wellbeing programmes for people of all ages and abilities.”

The AJ Bell Great North 10k takes in unbeatable city views, showcasing legendary sights in Newcastle, including crossing the Tyne Bridge twice, and for the first time, the finish line will be live streamed on Great Run’s official YouTube channel GreatRunTV - YouTube.

Inspiring participants of this year’s AJ Bell Great North 10k

• James Groves, 33 from Newcastle is running 200 consecutive days, including this Sunday’s Great North 10k, to raise funds for Mind and awareness for mental health. James said: “I want to remind people that it’s okay to reach out for help, that it’s okay to talk about mental health. I started out by running 5k a day, and I’m now nearly at my 200-day run target, and the AJ Bell Great North 10k is my first organised running event. I’ve raised £2,000 for Mind so far; while also hopefully encouraging others they can do this too, to put one foot in front of the other and to carry on." James added: “Mind, CALM, Andy’s Man Club and Samaritans are available for anyone who needs to reach out for help. It’s okay to talk about your mental health.”
  
  
• Bilal Shafiq, 24 from Stockton-on-Tees is running for his niece, who has recently become a quadruple amputee after contracting Meningitis. Bilal is raising funds for Meningitis Research Foundation, Bilal said: “I have a very close bond with my niece, and this situation was a big shock to the family. I am raising money for meningitis charities to help make the future a more meningitis free future. I aim to raise money for ECMO life support machines as they can cost £80,000 and we only have restricted amount of machines in the UK. Newcastle now holds a special place in my heart as this place is the reason my niece is still with us today, running here is going to be very emotional.”
  
  
• Vicky Connelly and Dean Harvey from Ryton, and their bridal party of nine will be taking part as a pre-wedding group run ahead of Vicky and Dean’s August wedding, while also fundraising for local charity, Red Sky Foundation. Vicky will also be taking part in the Great North Run on 7 September.
  
  
•  Carol Vejins, 55 from Chester le Street is running with her husband Paul, and family, in support of Paul, who last year was found to have a cancerous tumour, which was removed along with his eye. Carol said: “I can’t wait to take part in the Great North 10k. It’s a mission of mine to run over the Tyne Bridge, and to fundraise for Cancer Research. We also want to shout about how well Paul has been looked after by the NHS and the incredible teams at the Freeman and the RVI.”
  
  
• Eve Barker, 23 from South Shields is running her first 10k to fundraise for the Katie Piper Foundation. She said: “I have suffered with burn scars since I was 18 months old which has affected my mental health and body confidence. There are people who have similar or worse burns/scarring than myself and I want people to know that there is professional help out there. This will be my first 10k, I’m excited to run and to raise awareness for survivors of burns and scarring.”