AROUND 10,000 North-East fun-runners of all ages and abilities are taking part in a giant charity event later this month.

The 34th annual Children’s Cancer Run is being held at Newcastle Racecourse on Sunday May 15.

The event is organised by the North of England Children’s Cancer Research Fund (NECCR) to help raise funding for research into childhood cancers.

This year’s runners include 28-year-old Support Worker Monika Matyjasek, from Middlebrough, whose son Oliver was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia) in February 2013, when he was just four-years-old.

Oliver’s mother Monika, who at the time of his diagnosis had little knowledge of what leukemia was, said: “While Oliver was undergoing treatment at the Great North Children’s Hospital we were approached to take part in a clinical trial, like those that the NECCR help to fund.

“The trial meant Oliver’s chemotherapy and subsequent steroid treatments were kept to a minimum.

“I’m so glad we did this as it had a positive impact on Oliver’s mood during his months in treatment and also lessened the side-effects, such as weight gain, caused by steroids.”

Last year, the run raised over £189,000 for the NECCR, adding to the £5million which has already been raised by the event over the past three decades.

NECCR vice chairman Jim Richardson, whose son Brody was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was two years old, will also be taking part in the run.

He said: “His positive progress is all down to research, which has turned the disease from a death sentence into something that can be beaten.”

Participants can enter as a single runner, as part of a team, or with their school. Runners will receive a medal, t-shirt and a Gregg’s picnic to share with their friends and family.

For more details about the event, visit: www.childrenscancerrun.co.uk