RC Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

Great North Run - Newcastle’s Lord Mayor bares his sole for CAFOD

The Lord Mayor of Newcastle will run the final mile of the Great North Run barefoot in support of the Catholic aid agency CAFOD.

Lord Mayor Geoff O’Brien will be running for the first time with a team of 5 people who will be raising money for the Lord Mayor’s charities; CAFOD, NSPCC and Islamic Relief. The Lord Mayor’s team includes the renowned ‘Barefoot Runner’ John McBride. John, a council worker from Consett, has run the last mile of the last three Great North Runs barefoot to raise money for CAFOD. He challenged the Lord Mayor to join him in taking off his trainers for the final stretch as an act of solidarity with the people in developing countries for whom shoes are a luxury and who will benefit from the Lord Mayor’s running feat.

John McBride and the Lord Mayor will run the last mile of the Great North Run Barefoot for CAFOD

 

John is waiting to hear if he has been successful in his application to run a special Barefoot Mile carrying the Olympic Flame next year, having reached the second stage of the selection process. His voluntary work for CAFOD last year took him to Nairobi in Kenya, where he met many of the poor children and families which his fundraising efforts have helped to benefit.

John McBride said:

“I’m humbled that the Lord Mayor will be joining me barefoot this year. I couldn’t resist asking him but it is a bit of a crazy thing to do on the rough terrain, so I wouldn’t have thought any the worse of him for refusing. Just taking part in the Great North Run is a big enough challenge but this adds a whole new dimension, and I think the Lord Mayor is a very brave and big-hearted man to make the effort.

“The idea to run the last mile of the Great North Run barefoot was to make the point that many people in the developing world can’t afford shoes, let alone trainers; they go without and so I did too. When I went to Kenya I saw they not only go without shoes, they go without food, clean water and a means to feed their children. Too many children go without an education, and many go without hope. I saw people on the edge of life and this is just not acceptable in the 21st century.

“Visiting Kenya, it really struck home that what we do here in the UK does make a huge difference. I realised that every penny donated is not just a nice gesture, it truly makes the difference between life and death to many people, especially in the current drought conditions. I saw the difference CAFOD and its partners make, not only in providing the basics of survival, but also giving hope, smiles and a future. The Lord Mayor and all those who support him and his team will be changing people’s lives.”

Lord Mayor Geoff O’Brien said:

“I’m not sure what I’ve let myself in for but John is a very persuasive man and CAFOD is a great cause. Every step I take in bare feet, I’ll be thinking about the children that John met in Kenya, as well as the children that we’re supporting through our other official charities, Islamic Relief and the NSPCC. I’ve grown up with the Great North Run and it holds a special place in my heart so having a team running for these three charities is a real privilege and I’m sure will be a great day - once I get to the finish line.

“John really is an inspiration to us all, and it will be a wonderful tribute if he is selected to run a Barefoot Mile with the Olympic Flame next year. For me, the Olympics are a great chance for countries all over the world to put aside the things that divide us, and come together in a celebration of talent and effort. John’s barefoot runs are a great symbol of that solidarity, so I hope he has the chance to carry the flame.”