AS an ambassador for the Great North Fitness Revolution, Mark Allison vowed to help boost the health of the region.
Now the Run Geordie Run hero Mark is hoping his latest epic fundraising feat will inspire others to follow in his footsteps to fitness.
Mark revealed earlier this week he plans to run across Australia in just 70 days.
The 40-year old hopes to cross from west to east, covering 2,600-miles in scorching temperatures.
And father-of-one Mark has said he will be spreading the message of the Great North Fitness Revolution on his journey down under.
“I started small. I ran around the block in 1994 and it all began there so this proves anything is possible,” said Mark, who lives with wife Katy, 38, and son Jack, eight.
“I’m a big supporter of the Great North Fitness Revolution and I see that growing as part of this challenge .
“I seem to have captured people’s imaginations so I’ll be letting everyone know that it only takes a small change to make a big difference.”
Mark will leave from Perth on October 16, 2013, and hopes to arrive at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, on Christmas Eve.
He will battle “outback” temperatures of 50 degrees to pass through one of the most hostile environments on Earth.
Mark, of Shotley Bridge, County Durham, completed a 100-day challenge across America in August, raising over £100,000.
On his return, he gave his backing to our campaign, launched with Great North Run organisers Nova International, to encourage as many people as possible to make even small improvements to what they eat and drink and what they do for exercise.
This time around he hopes to raise at least £50,000 for the Children’s Foundation and St Benedict’s Hospice in Sunderland. He will again be running in memory of his mother Margery, who spent her final days in St Benedict’s Hospice as her battle against cancer came to an end in 1995.
He is also running for his father Terry, who died of cancer in 1988 and his brother David who died from a brain haemorrhage.
Any businesses interested in sponsoring Mark’s challenge can contact him by email at sponsorship@rungeordierun.com
To follow his progress or to make a donation visit his blog at www.rungeordierun.com
