Hebburn stars race Great North Run
Pictured: Hebburn’s Neil Grainger at the RTS North East & Border Centre Awards in March.
Hebburn stars Neil Grainger and Victoria Elliott are joining thousands who will take part in the Bupa Great North Run on Sunday.
Grainger, who plays pub singer Gervaise in the BBC2 sitcom, is fundraising for Cancer Research in memory of his mother Janet, who lost her battle to cervical cancer seven years ago.
The Middlesbrough-born actor is currently filming series two of Hebburn.
Grainger said: “Seven years ago I lost my mum to cervical cancer. Within those seven years we now have a vaccine to eventually eradicate this disease once and for all.
“Clear proof that we are beating cancer.”
And Elliott, who plays Denise, is raising money for Shelter in memory of her friend Lee Halpin.
Halpin, who lived in the Heaton area of Newcastle, died in April while filming an immersive documentary about homelessness in the city.
Heaton councillor Chris Bartlett, who is himself running his twelfth Great North Run, said: “A home is a basic human right and no one should be homeless, whatever their circumstances, something Lee wanted to bring to attention in the documentary he was making when he died.”
The Hebburn actors will be joined by comedian Patrick Monahan, who is raising funds for Zoe’s Place, the Middlesbrough children’s hospice which was forced to close last month following water damage.
An anticipated 56,000 runners will take part in what is billed the world’s biggest half-marathon, which follows a 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields.
Speaking to Giggle Beats, Cllr Bartlett said: “Every year thousands of people make the effort to train and then run one of the greatest sporting events in the UK.
“By running and raising money memories remain and some good comes out of possible tragedy.”
