The Great North Run Experience 

The Great North Run is the UK's best-loved half-marathon, in which thousands of people run for charity. Last year we had 30 people run for FSID raising over £15 000 for cot death research and support.

The atmosphere on the day is electric. Read about it here in the runners' own words.

Quotes from the Great North Run 2006


Through the eyes of Leila Platt:
I ran the Great North run in memory of my cousin James and girlfriend Zara's baby, Connor Finley Platt, who passed away August 2005 aged four months. I never got to meet Connor, as I only returned from my travels in July, but through photos and stories I got to know that he was a wonderful, smiley little chap. When the opportunity rose to run in Connor's memory I seized it with both hands. It felt it particularly important to raise awareness of FSID and also to fundraise for them, in order perhaps to spare other people, in the future, from the pain and endless questions that James and Zara and the rest of the family endure. Also, FSID have been marvellous in providing the CONI scheme through the pregnancy, birth and first steps in life of my new godson Jay, Connor's little brother, born August 2006. For me, running for FSID this year has been a way to celebrate Connor's life as well as saying a big thank you to FSID.

Fundraising was fun. Basically it involved asking everyone and anyone I knew to support. Plus, with it being a cause held so close to my heart, many people were spurred on to give to the charity who may not have heard of it before. I raised in excess of £600 and this was made so much easier through setting up the Just Giving page on the internet - half of the monies raised were through the site.

I'd always seen a half marathon as a challenge of strength, both physical and mental, showing the ability to just keep going. However, running the Great North proved that it was so much more than this.

Although the course is fairly flat, I can liken the run to a rollercoaster ride. Most of the challenge for me was emotional: I was quivering on the edge for most of it, between being excited in the atmosphere of all the runners putting in massive efforts for such good causes, and then feeling teary about why I was running. 

Through the eyes of Christine Savory:
I decided to participate in the Great North Run again as it is my favourite event. It was my eighth GNR and I enjoyed it as much as ever. And it is a really good opportunity for me to raise funds for a charity which is so close to our hearts.

The fundraising was fun, as we involved all our family and friends, and it was easier than just asking for sponsorship money. We have been raising money for FSID since 1979, so people are used to us asking for their support!  It was done through holding a Bingo Evening, Quiz Evening, Coffee Day and selling £1quiz sheets.

It was special this year as I ran it with my friends' 22 year old son, Robert, and it was his first half marathon. We ran together from start to finish. I really enjoyed looking out for yellow FSID vests and meeting other FSID runners along the route. The Red Arrows Display made it special too.

Since our daughter, Abigail Marie, died in November, 1978, it is important for us to continue to raise funds for cot death research and to keep her memory alive. Crossing the finishing line was great , and I was so pleased to finish knowing how much sponsorship was at stake.

Through the eyes of Ian Grant:
I used to run and had always promised myself that one day I would do one of the "big ones" (London or GNR). My wife turned 50 this year and I saw the same milestone looming for myself, so I decided that this was the year to enter (having conveniently forgotten about the intervening 20-odd years of inexercise). Our son Ben would also have reached a milestone this year, since he would have been 11 and transferring to secondary school, so that was also in my mind in running for him.

My wife did the fundraising: a fair division of labour. The justgiving website was also a very good suggestion - easy to set up and use, but I should have done it a bit earlier! Even so, it raised around £400.00.

On the day itself there was great support around the course, and it is a very well-organised event in terms of drinks stations etc. The information provided to runners ahead of time was very good too; it suggested training routines, and also provided a course route showing the elevations so that you could work out which bits were uphill and likely to be harder going. Apart from reaching the finish line, the best bit was undoubtedly approaching the Tyne Bridge and seeing runners streaming down the road ahead of me. The group chants of "oggi oggi oggi" whilst running through the underpasses were entertaining.

Crossing the finish line I felt elated. I'd managed to break my "in your wildest dreams" target of 2 hours!

FSID would like to say thank you to all those who took part in the Great North Run 2006.

Interested in running for FSID in the future? Click here to find out what we have on offer.