THE family of five-year-old cancer survivor are calling for Great North runners to join a charity’s ‘Team Daniel’.

Claire and Michael Rainbow from South Moor, Stanley, are calling on runners to join the 79-strong ‘Team Daniel’ for the Great North Run and raise funds for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, which supports families with a seriously ill child.

Claire and Michael said: “The Rainbow Trust has supported us for three years since Daniel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Sabrina, our family support worker helped Daniel massively while he was in hospital. She has relieved a lot of anxiety for us as parents. We can’t imagine life without her.”

Daniel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was two years old. Now aged five and currently in remission, the family is delighted he has been chosen to inspire Rainbow Trust’s Great North Run participants, Team Daniel.

Although the general sign-up date for the run has now closed, Rainbow Trust is calling on anyone who has a ballot place in the run to use their place to join Team Daniel.

Rainbow Trust will provide each runner with a Team Daniel running vest and there will be cheering squads at the event. Runners will also enjoy a post-race reception and massage and will receive a thank you card designed by Daniel.

The Great North Run takes place in Newcastle on September 9. The 13.1-mile race spanning Newcastle, South Shields and the North Sea coast, attracts about 57,000 runners.

Mum Claire said: “We would really encourage people to sign up to Team Daniel. Rainbow Trust understands what we have been through, what our life looks like and what it feels like having a child with a serious illness. I couldn’t do without them now.”

The charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening illness to make the most of their time together by pairing each family with a family support worker who helps them at home, in hospital and in the community, for as long as it is needed.

Oonagh Goodman, at Rainbow Trust, said: “The Great North Run is one of Rainbow Trust’s biggest events of the year and we are extremely grateful to Daniel and his family for backing our appeal. Money raised from the event will enable families with a seriously ill child to make the most of the precious time they have together.”

Rainbow Trust is a national charity providing expert practical and emotional support to families, where they need it, to help them make the most of each new day. It relies almost entirely on voluntary donations and thanks to the generosity of its supporters helps more than 2,300 families through its nine care teams in England.

To raise funds for Team Daniel and Rainbow Trust, entrants should visit http://rainbowtrust.org.uk/gnr or contact the events team at events@rainbowtrust.org.uk or 01372-220031.