An exciting delivery ahead of our Hadrian’s Wall Trek next week and how you can take part in our highly popular Sunshine Run 5K!

Hi Sunshine News Readers,

We have a busy few weeks coming up with events and exciting planning with lots to announce. To kick things off, we had an exciting delivery at Sunshine HQ this week as our t-shirts for the 2024 Sunshine Trek arrived!

Our Trek takes place in just 1 week and will see a group of us taking on a 13-mile hike across Hadrian’s Wall, exploring historic landmarks such as Thirlwell Castle, Walltown Country Park, Walltown and Windshield Crags (where we’ll reach the highest point at 1,000ft!), before heading to Steel Rigg where we’ll see the recently felled Sycamore Gap, and the trek will end at Housesteads Roman Fort.

Trek t-shirts

We’ll be completing the trek in 8 hours, and we’re hoping the glorious weather will hold out for us! The varying levels of incline and decline will prove a challenge, but the stunning views and picturesque landscape will be rewarding and knowing the positive impact this challenge will have on local children living with disabilities, additional needs and terminal illness is worth every moment.

Our trekkers have done a fantastic job at fundraising, and as a team we’ve already exceeded the overall target! The group have been chatting and sharing tips and photos of their training which has built some comradery ahead of the big day, and it’s set to be a fun challenge.

We spoke to Jon, who is not only trekking next week, but is also joining Team Sunshine to race in this year’s Great North Run! He said, “I’ve wanted to do The Great North Run for years so when the opportunity came up to run for The Sunshine Fund, it was a no-brainer. I’ve been switching between my running shoes and hiking boots to get some practice in and I completed a 28K run the other week. I can’t wait to get out there and knowing that I’m supporting an amazing small charity makes it even more rewarding.”

Jon bucket collecting for the Trek

Feeling inspired? There are plenty of ways you can support our small, local charity in a time where we need it most. We don’t receive any statutory funding and so we rely on fundraising to help us survive, and to allow us to grow and continue our mission to provide equal opportunities for all children in the North East.

You have a couple of weeks to register our Sunshine Run 5K on Newcastle Quayside which will take place from 6pm on June 19. Please visit https://entry.eventsupnorth.co.uk/races/gfctkto sign up. Standard entry costs £22 and we don’t ask for additional fundraising (though it is welcomed!). All runners receive a t-shirt, medal and chip timing for accurate results, and the flat and fast route attracts runners of all abilities – from competitive club runners to fun runners. Whether you run it, jog it, walk it, sprint it, dance it or skip it, do it for The Sunshine Fund and help improve the lives of babies, children and young people in our community!

Runners during a previous Sunshine Run

The Sunshine Run is more than just a race… we have plenty of entertainment lined up including North Tyneside Steel Band, a choir, face glitter and temporary tattoos, a visit from the Star Wars characters at 99th Garrison, plus a warm-up from one of our long-term Great North Runners. Participants have the opportunity to cool down with refreshments from local bars including the Urban Garden and Pitcher and Piano.

We have a selection of mass participation events you can take on and raise funds for us – whether you’re a runner, cyclist, swimmer or just fancy a new challenge! Please visit www.thesunshinefund.org/other-events.

Don’t forget… You can help us generate regular, sustainable funding from as little as £1 per week, and also have the opportunity to win something back by entering our weekly lottery! Each week, players have the chance to win the national prize of £25,000, as well as the local prize pot which is won regularly, plus a monthly bonus prize. They can keep the winnings or donate them back to the charity, and we receive 50p from all ticket sales. This month, lottery players can win a Summer getaway, or take £1000 in cash. Sign up now at https://bit.ly/3WYQkbm.

Thanks for reading,

Sophie X