Great North Run and RVI children's unit join forces

Jul 1 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

GREAT North Run founder Brendan Foster has announced a special partnership between the North East’s biggest sporting event and a new children’s hospital in the region.

The Great North Children’s Hospital, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, has become the nominated charity for the run, paving the way for huge fundraising opportunities.

As well as being guaranteed a number of entries for the event, the hospital will receive a donation from the money raised at the annual Bupa Great North Run hall of fame dinner.

Due to be completed next Spring, the new £100m children’s hospital will include specialist cancer care, dialysis suites and accommodation areas for families.

It is also set to improve the experiences of children in hospital, providing “clown doctors” and a 50-seat cinema.

The money it receives from the Great North Run partnership – which could run into the millions over time – will go towards everything from travel costs for families living far from the hospital to new technology.

Foster, chief executive of run organisers Nova International, said: “We have allocated places to the Great North Children’s Hospital and we are encouraging people to run for it. The ambition of the hospital is to become the best in the world and it shares that ambition with the Great North Run.