REIDY RUNS GNR

Every year, the AJ Bell Great North Run provides an opportunity for fundraisers to take on a personal challenge for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity.

This year’s run will be even more significant than usual, with all funds raised going towards completion of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a world leading cancer drug trials centre for the region.

Fully funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the £30 million institute at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle will enable ground-breaking cancer treatment that will directly benefit around 3.5 million people living in the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire, as well as making a global impact.

To inspire the runners, and celebrate the progress being made into cancer research, this year, for the first time, foundation supporters taking on the world’s biggest half marathon on Sunday 13 September will be wearing special football themed Sir Bobby’s Team t-shirts.

Those runners will include former Sunderland AFC manager, Peter Reid, who played for England under Sir Bobby at the Mexico ’86 World Cup.

Peter, who celebrated his 70th birthday in June, says: “I last did the Great North Run when I was at Sunderland. In fact, I think I wore a red and white shirt with a monkey’s head on the back to wind up the Newcastle fans! I also started the run alongside Sir Bobby, which was very special. I’ve done a few 10ks over the years but when I heard about The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and everything it’s trying to do building this new institute, I wanted to help.

“My 70th feels like a landmark, and I quite like working towards goals so this felt right. You read so many things about cancer and obviously we lost Sir Bobby and more recently Kevin Keegan to it. Really, you think, there but for the grace of God go I.

“My daughter had cervical cancer and thankfully her treatment was successful but cancer is something we all live with. We can fight against cancer together and I’m proud to be running for Sir Bobby’s Foundation. He was a wonderful man, a really warm man who was always great with me. It will be an honour to do the Great North Run for his charity.”

Other fundraisers joining Sir Bobby’s Team at the AJ Bell Great North Run include cancer patients, clinical trials researchers, Sir Bobby’s family and Sir Bobby Robson Institute construction workers. Many runners are running in thanks for cancer treatment loved ones are going through, and in memory of loved ones lost to the disease.

Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son and Chair of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, says: “The Great North Run is important to us every year, but there’s no doubt this time will be extra special for our runners as we push hard to finish fundraising for the Sir Bobby Robson Institute.

“Dad called his foundation his “last and greatest team,” and we’re very grateful to everyone taking on this challenge for us. It’s especially meaningful that, 40 years after playing for Dad at the World Cup in Mexico, Peter is still playing a key part in his team. We love the idea of all our runners running under the banner of Sir Bobby’s Team and hope they all love our football style running t-shirts as much as we do.”

The Sir Bobby Robson Institute will pioneer more ground-breaking innovation in cancer treatment and significantly increase the number of clinical trials available for patients in this region. An initial £20m to complete the Sir Bobby Robson Institute has been raised by long-standing supporters and fundraisers and a group of generous founding donors, including The Barbour Foundation, has brought the total raised for the institute to £28.5m.

To sponsor Peter in the Great North Run, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/peter-reid-gnr-2026.

Taking place on Sunday 13th September, the AJ Bell Great North Run is the world biggest half marathon and features some of the world’s leading athletes competing in the elite Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair races before 63,000 runners take on the iconic route from city to sea.

Since 1981, the event has brought people together – from first timers to all timers and once in a lifetimers, from charities to fundraisers and costume wearers, from famous faces to world-beaters and true local legends. Over 45 years its impact stretches far beyond the finish line, not only creating memories that endure but helping to raise millions of pounds for charity that truly changes lives.

For more information about the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, please visit: www.sirbobbysgreatestteam.co.uk.