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Tom JonesImage: Sunderland City 10K

Running For Hope

A Sunderland dad is taking on a running challenge to help set up a charity that will honour the memory of his baby daughter.

A Sunderland dad is taking on a running challenge to help set up a charity that will honour the memory of his baby daughter. Tom Jones from Carley Hill is taking part in the Sunderland City 10K run to raise funds that will enable the Hope Jones Memorial Fund to be recognised as an official charity, and to help other families who are going through a similar experience. 

Hope Jones was born in May 2020 at Sunderland Royal Hospital and was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle after being diagnosed with a series of heart defects. She spent several months in hospital battling numerous health conditions before she sadly passed away in December, having never once left hospital. Tom along with Hope’s mum Lisa Halliday, who are also parents to Abigail, 13, and Holly, 8, have now pledged to help other families in the region who have children in hospital due to heart, respiratory or neurological conditions, with financial support. 

Tom says: “We are hoping to set up this charity to keep Hope’s memory alive and to help parents in similar situations that have the financial burden of travelling daily to the hospital or staying over if they’re from out of the area. Hope’s passing has devastated us as a family beyond words but if we can help make things easier for even just one family, then Hope won’t have died in vain.”

As part of the fundraising effort to establish Hope’s memorial fund, Tom will be lacing up his trainers on Sunday 20 June to take part in the Sunderland City Runs 10K race. A non-runner since his army days, Tom has started his training runs and has taken up cycling over the past few weeks to get him ready for the 10K and future fundraising events. Tom says: “I felt that the Sunderland 10K would be a good starting point for our efforts to raise awareness of Hope’s memorial fund. I've not even as much as ran for a bus since I came out of the army many years ago, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

To make a donation towards establishing the charity foundation, visit the JustGiving page 

The 2021 Sunderland City Runs are being organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Sunderland City Council and Active Sunderland. The event will start with the Sunderland City 5K on the evening of Saturday 19 June. The 5K will use the iconic Northern Spire Bridge, providing a spectacular venue for runners and spectators alike. The following morning will see thousands of runners take part in the well-established Sunderland City Half Marathon and 10K, and the Active Sunderland BIG 3K. All three events will start and finish in Keel Square in the city centre.

Places for the 2021 Sunderland City Runs are available now at the event website

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