Communities to 'finish race' for runner who died

Communities are planning special events in memory of Sam Wealleans, who died after the Great North Run.

Different groups across the region will run or walk 3.3km (2.1 miles) in the coming weeks, the distance he still had to complete when he collapsed on Sunday.

The 29-year-old from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, was running for the charity Mind in memory of his sister and his friend Matty, and his fundraising target of £350 has already passed £22,000.

Organiser Karen McNeill Smith, from running group Newbiggin SAS, said: "This is just our way as a community to remember Sam and support his family and raise awareness of the work of Mind."

Mr Wealleans had been running the half marathon from Newcastle to South Shields on Sunday when he collapsed and was taken to hospital, where he died.

"I knew Sam because I used to see him at the gym and he had the most infectious smile, just a lovely, lovely young lad," Ms McNeill Smith said.

"I put a message on social media just saying, 'let's come together for Sam and do this 2.1 miles', and there was this fantastic response and lots of other people are running on that day too all over the country."

The event will begin at Church Point in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea at 11:00 BST on Sunday 29 September and people can walk or run one full loop of the promenade.

"Running is so good for your health, this seems such a good way to remember Sam," she added.

The Reverend Anthony O'Grady, vicar of Woodhorn with Newbiggin, knew Mr Wealleans' family well and said there was "an incredible sense of grief and shock" in the town.

"He was just such a kind, generous, polite young man, it is beyond comprehension and just very difficult to imagine what his parents are going through.

"Sam will be remembered in our main Sunday service but I hope people will feel able to drop in to the church any time and light a candle in memory of him," he added.

Alongside the run in Newbiggin, there are separate plans to run the final section of the GNR, with more than a thousand people joining a Facebook group set up to organise the event.

Stephanie Cochrane, from North Shields, said she wanted to "pay tribute to Sam and finish the run on his behalf".

The 32-year-old said: "Originally, I thought there was going to be a group of 10 of us.

"But, to see it grow hour by hour - and when I woke up this morning there's over a thousand people - is really overwhelming."

Ms Cochrane is currently talking to police and South Tyneside Council about how how such a large event could go ahead.

"It's been crazy, but I hope it shows his family how many people are supporting him during this horrible time," she said.

The authority said it had offered to work with Ms Cochrane "to look to deliver an event of this nature, properly planned and safely, in the future".

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