GREAT NORTH RUN 2024: FAMILY FUNDRAISING AT ITS FINEST

“I want to thank Tiny Lives charity from the bottom of both my and Sam’s hearts for their support during Tommy’s start of life.”

The Great North Run is an event that brings the whole of the North East together, and one amazing family of fundraisers is getting involved across the day to support Tiny Lives this year.

Kayleigh, her husband Daniel, Daniel’s sister Jodie, and her husband Sam have a family-wide connection to Tiny Lives. Kayleigh is one of the brilliant nurses on the Transitional Care ward, leading on the family-integrated work on the unit, in 2021 Jodie and Sam spent time on Ward 35 after their son Tommy was unwell when he was born.

Sam and Daniel will be taking on the Great North Run while Jodie, a certified sports massage therapist will be offering free massages to Tiny Lives runners when they cross the finish line. Kayleigh is also volunteering in our charity tent and will be welcoming weary runners with some well-deserved refreshments, a comfy seat, and a chance to celebrate their achievements.

This isn’t the first challenge that the family has taken on for Tiny Lives. Over the past three years the family, who all live on the same street in South Shields, have raised money through a variety of activities and events. This is Sam’s third Great North Run, in 2023 he donated the proceeds to support our work and this year he will be running as a member of Team Tiny Lives.

Speaking about what Tiny Lives means to the family, Jodie said, “We knew about the work that the charity did from Kayleigh’s work on the ward, but I had no idea of how much they did for babies and parents until we spent time on the unit when Tommy was born.

“Tommy was born during the pandemic and the support that Tiny Lives gave us really softened the blow at a very difficult time. We have been renovating recently and came across some of the mementos from our time on the unit, when you’re living it everything can seem like a bit of a blur but those pictures and keepsakes are helping us to explain Tommy’s neonatal journey to him now he is a little bit older.

“I want to thank Tiny Lives charity from the bottom of both my and Sam’s hearts for their support during Tommy’s start of life. They brought us so much comfort and hope during a scary and uneasy period of our lives and the work that they do is truly outstanding. As a family, we will continue to support Tiny Lives for as long as we can and we are all really excited to be part of Team Tiny Lives at this year’s Great North Run.”

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Great North Run this year. Whether you’re a runner, a volunteer, or cheering on a loved one, we love having you as part of Team Tiny Lives.

If you have a fundraising idea for Tiny Lives we would love to hear from you! Contact louise@tinylives.org.uk or call 0191 230 2112.