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Great North Run 2025
PROJECT TEAM COMPLETES GREAT NORTH RUN ON WINDY BUT MILD DAY
The Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project multi age volunteer team had much better conditions this year to face the challenge of the hilly Great North Run at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Sunday 7th September. It was windy but thankfully dry and mild as the team completed its task along with the other 60,000 runners.
As usual, the 13.1 mile half marathon set off with wheelchair and Elite men and women’s races at 10am with the huge main group starting in waves between 10.50am and 12 noon or so went the plan. Delays in setting groups off meant that part of our team set off at 10.50 am but the rest not until 12.25pm
Excitable crowds and a fun but strenuous warm up helped to prepare the team for the massive waves of runners hitting the route with an early landmark being the impressive Tyne bridge. Bumper crowds lifted spirits as it seemed like the whole of Tyneside had turned out to encourage the runners. Giving cheers, sweets, drinks and with smiling faces, the team reported being massively enthused by the crowd and one of our experienced runners said she never thought she would be turning down jelly beans after being given so many, particularly in the first few miles.
Three of our runners overcame injury issues to complete the course including Jackie Walter, who had a back stretch just a week before the race, Aaron Daley, who pulled his calf during the race and Colin Sweatman whose arthritic knees told him this would be a battel to be overcome. Despite his knees, Colin Sweatman was the first to finish in a time of 1 hour 49 minutes and 14 seconds! Jackie Walter completed for the 16th time to prove she is a true stayer having said 16 years ago that “I will do one for the project just to help”. The team came back challenged but happy and safe.
Another regular runner, Matthew Shaw, injured his Achilles before the race and couldn’t run but, undeterred, he spoke to his sponsors and did a marathon length row instead!
The Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project, part of Horbury Churches Together, has many volunteers and committed staff and this team typifies the spirit of the project. The funds raised by sponsorship of the runners in the race and the row, is expected to raise over £2,000 when all money is collected. It will help the project to continue to support young people in Horbury and the surrounding area, and to drive forward the project’s mantra to never give up on any young person. All are deserving of every effort to help them develop at their own pace, achieve their full potential, and enjoy a full and valuable adult life.
“The project is very grateful for all support and a big thanks go to our team who have trained and fundraised over many months to make this fundraiser happen” said John Walter, Business Manager, team driver and race co-ordinator.
If you would like to support Horbury Churches Together, just donate via the enthuse.com fundraising pages. If you want to help as a volunteer the website address is www.horburybreakthrough.com , or contact Alisa Goodridge, Administrator on 01924 275859 or e-mail alisa.breakthrough@gmail.com
Family Fun Day 2025
Family Fun Day 2025
Stunningly Successful HCT Free Whit Family Fun Day Event for the 9th YearAlmost 500 people came along to enjoy the Horbury Churches Together Free Family Fun Day held on the afternoon of Saturday 24th May at Horbury AcademyAimed at families wanting a great afternoon out without breaking the bank, people attending totalled more than twice the number who came to the first one in 2017. The weather ignored the pre day forecasts of rain and wind, being mild and dry! The atmosphere was very much of community as entry, all activities and prizes won were provided free of charge. With 5 Whitsuntide Community Cakes totalling over one and a half metres in length, Reverend Jacob Kaiga explained that these were celebration cakes for the foundation of the Christian church by the disciples. It was cut at 3pm and eaten by keen cake lovers by 3.30pm!
Held at Horbury Academy the bumper event included a Bar B Q, refreshments, Bouncy Castles, Donkey rides, Kite Making and Flying, Hook-a-Duck, Crafts, fun, Music and 3 Face Painters! It was so busy that the Hook-a-Duck gave out over 350 prizes and both the BBQ and the cake stall sold out with an hour to go! Feedback obtained as people left the event included comments such as “amazing”, “well organised”, “more Donkeys please” and “everything was free!”John Walter, Business Manager for Horbury Churches Together said "It was a big effort from a large number of volunteers, our 8 churches and our sponsors, but the joy on the adults and children's faces all afternoon made it more than worthwhile. This event just grows and grows and is now a feature in the calendar of Horbury life .
Held at Horbury Academy the bumper event included a Bar B Q, refreshments, Bouncy Castles, Donkey rides, Kite Making and Flying, Hook-a-Duck, Crafts, fun, Music and 3 Face Painters! It was so busy that the Hook-a-Duck gave out over 350 prizes and both the BBQ and the cake stall sold out with an hour to go! Feedback obtained as people left the event included comments such as “amazing”, “well organised”, “more Donkeys please” and “everything was free!”John Walter, Business Manager for Horbury Churches Together said "It was a big effort from a large number of volunteers, our 8 churches and our sponsors, but the joy on the adults and children's faces all afternoon made it more than worthwhile. This event just grows and grows and is now a feature in the calendar of Horbury life .
Great North Run 2024
The Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project, with 5 staff and so many young people who need help (in the last 12 months over 450 of them) needs all our community to get behind the work. If you would like to support our Great North Run Team, just donate to Horbury Churches Together (The umbrella charity name) via the enthuse.com fundraising pages.
If you want to help as a volunteer contact Gary Bentley the Operations Manager on 01924 275859 or via email gary.breakthrough@gmail.com
The 3 runners in our photograph are Jacqueline Walter; Aaron Daley, a young man who has been a beneficiary of project help and his dad, Michael, running to try to beat his son. Also in the team this year are Abigail and Thomas Hitch, Erin Townsend and Matthew Shaw
If you would like to take part in this exhilarating event and to raise money for the project,
just contact John Walter on john70.breakthrough@gmail.com
Great North Run 2023
GREAT NORTH RUN - 8TH SEPTEMBER 2024
RUN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
On 8th September 2024, the Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project will have a team of 10 runners in the Great North Run. It is held in Newcastle and is the biggest half marathon in the world with 56,000 people taking part. If you would like to take part in this exhilarating event and to raise money for the project,
just contact John Walter on john70.breakthrough@gmail.com
Well done to all involved for raising £50.05 at the Youth Awards cake stall
Well done to all involved for raising £622.00 with your 10K sponsored walk
The Great North Run 2022
"Well done to our team who ran in the Great North Run yesterday to raise funds for our Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project. The 13.1 mile run, in the largest half marathon in the world made up of 60,000 runners, is a real challenge and they rose to it. We hope to raise about £2,500 this year which is vital to our work. We will be entering another team next year on Sunday 10th September 2023 so, if you want to helps us and to have a great experience and a great day out, just contact our Business Manager John Walter on 07770 315889 or e-mail john@breakthru-youth.co.uk who can give you more details".
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