Joe McElderry returns to Tyneside for Great North Run

Sep 18 2010 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

X FACTOR winner Joe McElderry will be running home to South Shields on Sunday, while raising thousands of pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The 19-year-old who sang his way to victory on the ITV1 talent show phenomenon in 2009, has been using every spare second during the recording of his debut album to put in some training hours for tomorrow’s Great North Run.

“It has been pretty full on,” he said yesterday, taking a break from making promotion plans with his record company for the album and follow-up single to his chart-topper, The Climb.

“I’ve been trying to fit in training during lunch breaks and breaks in recording. I haven’t done as much as I would have liked, but I run every day anyway, so I should be OK.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to who has done it talks about what a fantastic experience and what a great day the race is, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Joe has already reached the target of £8,000 he set for himself, but said he would be more than happy to receive some more donations. He was motivated to do the run for TCT after seeing the work the charity does first hand. “I visited the old ward at the RVI back in February when I was back home with the X Factor Tour. The young people were going through so much, but really seemed to be excited to see me.

“They asked me whether I would come back to open the unit and whether I’d like to get involved with fundraising. It was a massive honour for me to be asked.”

Joe joined Sarah, Duchess of York and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice to open the £1.7m unit at the Newcastle hospital in May, spending time talking to the staff and patients, and signing more than a few autographs.

In the summer, Joe cemented his relationship with the charity when he was made a TCT ambassador.

He said: “I started thinking about what I could do to raise some money. I like running, and I’d never done the Great North Run before, so I thought that would be a good thing to do.”

To sponsor Joe, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com