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E-NEWSLETTERS GENERAL

Tony Blair Kick Starts The Great North Run

The Tony Blair Sports Foundation is partnering with Competition Line and Life Fitness to support participants in the Great North Run and raise funds for grassroots sport.

The former Prime Minister launched his campaign to attract 100 runners to this year’s race at the Gateshead Indoor Stadium by running the distance of the Tyne Bridge on two Life Fitness treadmills. He was joined by the chairman of the Great North Run, Brendan Foster.

Tony Blair is asking runners to raise a minimum of £1,000 for the foundation, and to kick start the fundraising, is sponsoring all 100 runners the first £500. As part of the initiative, runners will receive free access to Competition Line’s 38 Lifestyle Fitness clubs located around the country.

Competition Line announced its support for The Tony Blair Sports Foundation at the official opening of £2.5m Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre in Country Durham last November. It has pledged to raise £100,000 for the charity.

As well as free gym membership, members of Tony Blair’s Team 100 will receive an online training diary and fitness programme, training advice from Lifestyle Fitness Academy Trainers, a free pedometer, water bottle, race t-shirt and entry into a competition to join VIPs on the day of the run.

The foundation will use the funds raised to increase young people’s participation in sport by encouraging more adults to become trained coaches and officials and giving them access to nationally-accredited training. It will also help to match coaches with the school and sports clubs that need them most.

“We are proud to support the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and to help young people, particularly those who are socially excluded, discover the joys of sport and exercise. The health of those in the North East is below the national average and we believe investing in health and wellbeing, both people and facilities, will have far reaching effects,” says Gordon Hall, Managing Director of Competition Line.

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