A record number of runners took part in this year’s Great North Run Half Marathon on the 8th of September, the largest half marathon in the world. Tens of thousands of runners completed the famous 13.1-mile course from Newcastle to South Shields.

Among the participants were five very special individuals: Steve Orr, John and Joshua Leeson, Harrison Modeste, and Mia Olone, all running to raise funds for Chartwell. It was also the first time we had supporters participating in this event.

Steve Orr, a long-time supporter of Chartwell, had previously taken part in the London 10k several times as part of Team Go-Ahead. This was Steve’s first attempt at the Great North Run. He said: “The atmosphere was electric, even with a torrential downpour during the first half of the race!” His goal was to finish in two hours, and despite finding the uphill sections particularly challenging, he crossed the finish line in an impressive 02:06:50. Steve raised a fantastic £1,500 thanks to the generosity of his colleagues, family, friends, and sponsors, including Bidvest Noonan and the Go-Ahead London Social Fund.

We were thrilled that John and Joshua Leeson got in touch to participate. John has been connected to Chartwell since 2013, having completed a full cross-country marathon for the charity while battling cancer himself. His journey was longer than originally planned, but he still managed to squeeze in the London 10k for us during that time. After relocating to North Yorkshire in 2023, John was excited to hear about Chartwell’s places in the Great North Run and immediately signed up with his son, Josh. John shared, “It was very special to run with my son. Unlike in 2013 when I was reflecting on my own personal achievements, this time, it was an opportunity to reflect on how far the Trust had come.” Together, John and Joshua finished with a superb time of 02:48:25, raising over £1,000. We are honoured to have their continued support and a personal message received by them to let us know.

Our third runner, Mia Olone, has supported Chartwell for several years, particularly during her time working at The Glades, Bromley. Another former London 10k participant, Mia decided to go the extra mile by taking up her place in the Great North Run. She raised over £750 and finished with a time of 02:43:47. Mia said: “It was a tough challenge but certainly worth it. Thank you for allowing me to take part.”

Lastly, our fifth participant, Harrison Modeste, contacted us with a heartfelt reason to run—he wanted to raise funds in memory of his friend Brian Dempsey. Harrison secured the final place on our team and raised an incredible £1,800, a fitting tribute to Brian. Harrison was also the first of the Chartwell runners to cross the finish line, with an outstanding time of 02:00:56.

In total, our five runners raised over £5,000, making a significant difference in supporting cancer care in our communities. Their efforts have been nothing short of extraordinary.

If you would like information on next year’s Great North Run or other challenges, please get in touch!