Blair to sponsor 100 in Great North Run

8:25am Saturday 26th April 2008

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FORMER Prime Minister Tony Blair is to sponsor 100 contestants in this year's Great North Run - at a cost of £50,000.

The former Sedgefield MP wants to kickstart the fundraising efforts of 100 people who sign up to run in aid of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, which aims to get more people in the North- East into sport.

Volunteers will get exclusive help from Lifestyle Fitness, including an online training diary, personal training and free gym membership.

Mr Blair unveiled the scheme at Gateshead Indoor Stadium yesterday, appearing with Great North Run chairman Brendan Foster, who agreed to set aside the places in this year's halfmarathon.

To launch the initiative, the two ran the equivalent of the Tyne Bridge on treadmills, backed by a large banner depicting the scene on the day of the event.

Mr Blair said: "The Great North Run is at the very heart of sport in the North-East and is a facilitator for huge sums of money being raised for charity.

"The foundation also aims to be at the heart of sport in the region, so it seemed only natural that our key fundraising effort for 2008 should be based around this fabulous event."

Mr Foster, who took 10,000m bronze at the 1976 Olympics and founded the Great North Run in 1981, said: "I'm delighted that the Bupa Great North Run will be able to provide a vehicle for the foundation to raise funds - we too are concerned that there is a worrying trend of inactivity among most young people which we are addressing in our Great Activity Campaign.

"I'm sure that Tony will have no trouble finding 100 people prepared to take to the streets of Tyneside in October for the cause."

The Tony Blair Sports Foundation aims to increase participation in sport by young people by getting more adults trained as coaches.

The Great North Run, which will be held on Sunday, October 5, is limited to 52,000 entries. This year, the event will become the first in Europe to have attracted a million entrants.

Anyone who wants to be one of Tony Blair's Great North Run Team 100 must raise least £1,000 for the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, including the £500 donation pledged by Mr Blair.

For more information, visit the website tonyblairsportsfound ation.org