BHF runners raise £500k for research at AJ Bell Great North Run

Over 1,100 of our supporters took on Sunday’s AJ Bell Great North Run as part of the event’s charity partnership. The determined BHF runners joined 60,000 other trainer-clad participants, to take on the 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields on 8th September, all with the same goal of funding lifesaving research.

We were announced as the AJ Bell official charity partner of the series in 2023 with a joint mission to help improve the nation’s heart health and the partnership will run for two years.

This year’s iconic AJ Bell Great North Run helped us to raise £496,000 which will go towards finding new cures and treatments for the 7.6 million people in the UK currently living with heart and circulatory conditions.

Fraser’s story

Runners of different ages and backgrounds took to the streets of the Northeast, all with their own heartfelt reason for running. Among them was former professional footballer Fraser Franks who took on the challenge after undergoing major open-heart surgery just one year ago.

Fraser, aged 32, said: “What an experience and what an event. This time last year I was barely able to walk after I had lifesaving heart surgery for my aortic valve. I’ve worked so hard to get here. I can’t believe I finished it!

“The BHF means a lot to me. At 28 years old I was diagnosed with a heart condition, which meant the end of my footballing career. I didn’t know what my life was going to be like but they have helped me understand and come to terms with my condition.

“I chose to do this run for the BHF to support them in helping to keep families like mine together through their lifesaving research. Being well for my little girl has been so incredibly important to me.”

Emma’s reason for running

Also running for Team BHF was Emma Phillips, a young doctor who took on the event to mark the anniversary of the last time and place she saw her father. He tragically passed away from a cardiac arrest when Emma was 22, shortly after he saw her during the Great North Run in 2022.

Emma said: “This was a very emotional but proud run for me. Marking the last time I saw my dad alive by running the same event was so poignant for me. I ran for the BHF in his memory in the hope of supporting future lifesaving research into conditions such as my dad’s. I don’t want anyone else going through what we did so this is me doing my part.”

Karen McDonnell, Senior Events Manager here at the BHF, added: “The stories of why our amazing supporters take part in our events, never fail to inspire me. It was fantastic to see the passion and determination of over 1,100 BHF runners who took on the AJ Bell Great North Run on Sunday. Together they’ve help raised an incredible half a million pounds which will fund research to help revolutionise treatments and transform the lives of the 7.6 million of people in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases.”