September 28, 2026
Harrison Foundation doubles Great North Run fundraising to £18,252 for The Sunshine Fund
The Harrison Foundation is doubling the impact of an incredible fundraising effort by The Sunshine Fund’s Junior and Mini Great North Run team, after young runners raised an impressive £9,126 for the North East charity.
More than 70 youngsters represented The Sunshine Fund at this year’s Junior and Mini Great North Runs, taking to the Newcastle Gateshead Quayside to raise vital funds for children living with disabilities across the region.
Ahead of the event, the Harrison Foundation, official sponsor of The Sunshine Fund’s Junior and Mini Great North Run teams for 2026, pledged to match every pound raised by the young runners.
Following the team’s most successful year at the event to date, the Foundation will now match the £9,126 fundraising total, taking the overall contribution generated by the runners and the Harrison Foundation to £18,252.
The money will help The Sunshine Fund provide specialist equipment to babies, children and young adults with disabilities, additional needs and terminal illness across the North East.
Harrison Foundation trustee Daniel Harrison MBE joined Team Sunshine on the day alongside his own children and said seeing the efforts of the young runners made the Foundation even prouder to support the charity.
Daniel said: “What an incredible achievement by every single person who ran, raised money, donated or supported Team Sunshine this year. To see more than £9,000 raised by the team is fantastic, and we’re delighted to honour our commitment and match that amount.
“Having taken part in previous years alongside my own children, I’ve seen first-hand the enthusiasm and determination of all the young runners. There was a brilliant atmosphere throughout the day and it was wonderful to see so many families coming together to support such an important North East charity.
“The Sunshine Fund does fantastic work for children and families across our region and we’re very proud of our long-standing relationship with the charity. Most importantly, this £18,252 total will help make a real difference to the children they support, and everyone who took part should be extremely proud of the role they played in achieving that.”
The Harrison Foundation has supported The Sunshine Fund since 2017, with the partnership growing through donations, fundraising events and community initiatives.
Last year alone, the Foundation donated more than £27,000 to The Sunshine Fund, helping to provide 30 pieces of specialist equipment. This support benefited 29 individual children and one primary school, funding equipment including mobility aids, sensory resources and communication and learning tools.
David Wilson, head of the Sunshine Fund, said: “It was brilliant to be back at the Junior & Mini Great North Run this year and see all the kids and families running for The Sunshine Fund. It turned out to be our most successful year yet – a result of everyone’s determination to raise as much as possible and supported by the incredible generosity of The Harrison Foundation.
“There was definitely extra energy this year too, with runners knowing that every pound they raised would be matched by the Harrison Foundation, doubling the difference they could make.
“Our long-standing partnership with The Harrison Foundation continues to show just how committed they are to improving the lives of the children we support and we couldn’t be more grateful.”