Tyne Tunnel 2K race will still go on

Sep 9 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

Regional firms SURGO Construction and Napper Architects have also lent a hand, along with international IT company Inatech and the national MS Life Campaign.

Finally two more locals showed their colours – Gainford Design Associates and Robinson Ward Accountants.

Last night six-times competitor and Paralympic gold-medallist Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson put her weight behind the event. She said: “The ‘T2K’ has to be seen to be believed.

“This night time 2km course starts with a 100m sprint to the entrance portal. Within seconds, muscle power alone takes the Paralympic standard, state-of-the-art racing chairs smashing through the Tunnel’s 30mph speed limit and reaching up to 50mph on the 1km downhill section.

“Then it’s a shoulder-burning 1km straight up grind to the finish line”.

Around 22 elite athletes have already signed up to the event which will be broadcast to more than 400 million people across the globe.

Coun Huscroft said: “We relied heavily on the passion and loyalty of sponsors to North and South Tyneside to keep the race alive this year and they didn’t let us down. I believe this increased ‘local ownership’ comes at just the right time and will increase the stability of this unusual event in the long term.”

South Tyneside Council’s leader, Coun Iain Malcolm, said: “We are delighted to contribute vital sponsorship to help safeguard this major international event.

“It is a spectacular show of metal and muscle, and it would have been hugely disappointing if it had lost the momentum built up over recent years.”