Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project volunteers to take on the Great North Run
A team of committed volunteers will take part in the Great North Run to raise funds for Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project.
Now in its 25th year of existence, the charity project is challenging itself yet again to raise over £100,000 in 2026/27 to sustain and develop its work.
A key part of this effort is a multi-age volunteer team, who will take part in this year’s Great North Run that will begin in Newcastle and end in South Shields, on September 13.
Five brave volunteers from the project will tackle the biggest half marathon in the world, alongside 60,000 other runners.
The team includes Jacqueline Walter, a long term project supporter who is running for the 17th time, and Matthew Shaw and Kirsty Cronin – who are both representing the rural areas of Middlestown and Netherton.
Harriet Gavan-Duffy and newcomer Hannah Standage, will also take on the challenging race.
As part of the Horbury Churches Together Charity, the Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project aims to “help young people to value themselves and others”.
The project supports over 350 young people per annum in Horbury, and has helped thousands of young people across the district since it was formed in 2001.
John Walter, business manager said: “Our mantra is to never give up on any young person.
"All are deserving of our every effort to help them develop at their own pace, achieve their full potential, and to enjoy a full and valuable adult life”.
Last year, the charity obtained three years of funding from Children In Need.
However, volunteers still need to raise tens of thousands of pounds to continue the Breakthrough Project’s important work.
John continued: “We still need to raise in excess of £50,000 in the next 12 months to continue our work.
"This includes the important Great North Run event which, it is hoped, will raise at least £2,500.
"For a project with four staff, many volunteers, and so many young people who need help, we need all the community to get behind us.”
To find out more about Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project, or to donate, visit: https://www.horburybreakthrough.com/