Volunteer team from key Wakefield youth project to participate in the Great North Run 2024

Seven brave volunteers from the Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project, including young people who have been helped by the project, will participate in this year’s Great North Run to raise vital funds for hundreds of young people who rely on the group.

The race, which will take place on September 8, is the biggest half marathon in the world and will have almost 60,000 runners in what is one of the most thrilling running events of the year within the country.

The youth project team will be led by three experienced runners, Jacqueline Walter, who is running for the 15th time, Matthew Shaw, son of a long time project volunteer and Erin Townsend, who is representing St Marys Church in Horbury.

Backing them up will be new adult running team member, Michael Daley, and new young, competitive runners, Aaron Daley, who is the son of Michael, alongside Abigail and Thomas Hitch.

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 and gives exciting developmental experiences to over 300 young people, aged 11 to 25, living in Horbury, its surrounding rural areas such as Netherton, Overton and Middlestown, which have little or no youth activity provision outside of the project and Lupset.

John Walter, business manager for the Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project, 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”.

The project is youth led and provides various Duke of Edinburgh schemes including; youth clubs; sports, holiday activities; residential camps; a variety of lunch break and after school activities and opportunities for community involvement and charitable support.

National Lottery Funding has been obtained, but for the project to continue its necessary work, they still need to raise over £40,000 each year through their own efforts including the key Great North Run event.

To donate, or to become a volunteer for the project, visit: https://www.horburybreakthrough.com/