Great North Run
30 September 2007

We have 3 Special Reports:

Review of the Day | Engagement Party | Stormtrooper

and 3 photo galleries showing images from the day.

General Scene | On the Run | Après Run

The gallery images have all been reduced in file size for speed of downloading and display. For quality printing you will need the fullsize original, which could be anything up to 5 megabytes in size. If you would like to get a particular photo printed out, please email gnrphotos@mnd-tyneandwear.org.uk and we will email the original full size file to you.

Review of the Day

There was a definite party atmosphere at the Association’s Welcome Tent at the Finish.

Skiers talk about ‘après ski’. Well, this was ‘Après Run’, a time and place to relax, take in refreshment, meet up with family and friends and enjoy a warm and sunny September afternoon in congenial company.

It gets busy at the Welcome tent

Over 200 wonderful people took part in the Great North Run in the cause of helping the fight against MND. Some were experienced competitive runners. For others it was a major physical challenge. All were united in supporting the cause of defeating MND. Almost all know or have known family, relatives or friends with MND.

At least three courageous people with MND did the Run in their wheelchair.

Mary Lesbirel	Liz Shipley & Martin Boyes	John Mackie & Graham Glynn

Out on the course, some could afford to smile or wave at the camera.

Ted Ferguson	Annette Miles & Caroline Motion	Andrew Jennians & Alistair Cunliffe

But most preferred to concentrate on their running.

Julie House intent on making a fast time. She finished in 2 hours 2 minutes.

First of our runners to finish was our stalwart Ted Ferguson, veteran of many such runs, in the superb time of 1 hour 32 minutes.

Ted Ferguson being seriously welcomed by Esther Fifield and Anita Frith

Soon other runners were streaming in, receiving congratulations from their supporters as well as from the official Greetings Team.

Some of the Mary Lesbirel Tribute Fund team

This year, Kirstine Knox, Chief Executive of the Association, was with us and spent the afternoon meeting and chatting with our runners and their supporters.

A few extrovert souls were in fancy dress, drawing extra attention to the MND cause.

Going clubbing - Andy Pape has a bone to pick	The Tin Man & Dorothy (Jason Lamb and Lisa Tatem)

Mike Curtis ran as a Stormtrooper from Star Wars. We report separately on his noble suffering in the MND cause.

Others carried a picture or name of someone they were running for.

For Roomey	For Shaun

With the fine, warm weather, the crowd soon spilled out into the open air, where chat and socialising continued. It was a fine day for a picnic:

Kate Dickinson and companion

Many had run in pairs. There were husband & wife teams, brothers, sisters, in-laws, friends or work colleagues.

Eleanor & Tim Rattay	Julie & Ruth Hardy

But there also whole families:

The O'Connor & O'Shea family

and even bigger groups. This year the biggest group of runners was the 15-strong Moore Crew from Ayrshire (with an outpost at Scarborough) who were obviously having a great time.

Some of the Moore Crew from Ayrshire (and Scarborough)

Several of the Crew work for Woodward Aircraft Engine Systems of Prestwick and took the opportunity to hand over a large cheque from their employer matching the amount they had raised in sponsorships.

Brian Nelson, Michael Moore & Jim Houston present the cheque from Woodward Aircraft Engine Systems

In all it was a great day for everyone who took part and for the Association. There were more runners in the MND cause than ever before and there was a big increase in media coverage and public awareness. And an enjoyable Après Run.

We give a big Thank You to all our runners and to their families and friends who supported them during the long months of training and the raising of sponsorships.

And a big Thank You too to the small army of volunteers who spent the day serving drinks and food, meeting and greeting, manning the check-in table, photographing and recording - and, later, putting all this on the web for the world to see. Without them the day could not have been the great success that it was.

But the last words must go to Claire Cooper's young supporters. Their banner needs no comment.

The banner says it all.

Pictures and stories from 2006

Pictures and stories from 2005

Pictures and stories from 2004

Pictures and stories from 2003