Nominations made in Great North Run campaign

Mar 20 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

THE first nominations have been made as The Journal searches for unsung heroes of the Great North Run.

The BUPA Great North Run Award, in association with The Journal, will be presented at The BUPA Great North Run Hall of Fame Charity Dinner.

Nominating your choice for the award could give you or your nominee the exclusive chance to attend the star-studded ceremony at the Gateshead Hilton Hotel on April 7.

Among the first to be nominated was Brian Roberts, who has taken part in all 28 Great North Runs to date.

Now 65, Brian plans to keep tackling the gruelling 13.1 mile course for as long as he can.

“Someone told me before the first one that he didn’t believe I could do it,” said Brian. “I did it as a challenge and got the bug and I’ve done every one since. I’ll keep doing it for as long as possible – even if I need a wheelchair, I’ll still do it.”

Brian, who lives with his wife Bernadette, 55, in Darlington, County Durham, has run for a number of charities, most recently Diabetes UK – raising thousands of pounds in the process.

As well as recording a best-time of 1hour 35minutes, he has completed the race when pushing a patient from St Cuthbert’s Hospital in Durham suffering from muscular dystrophy.

“Every year is different. In 1984, I remember someone knocked me over early in the run and I thought I was in trouble because there were loads of runners behind me.

“I had loads of bruises but I thought ‘if I stop now I’ll seize up’ so I carried on. I got back home and I was bandaged from head to foot.”

Brian, a retired lab technician, was a serious runner earlier in his life, representing a club in Richmond, North Yorkshire, but says he now does the race for fun.

“It’s a brilliant event,” he said. “Overall, it’s a great experience and there’s a great camaraderie from start to finish.” Brian was nominated by his niece, Sarah Hall, 31, a PR executive from Whitley Bay.