In September last year, over 200 people ran the Great North Run for CHUF, the Children’s Heart Unit Fund. Transcendit have sponsored the Great North Run for CHUF for the last 5 years, supporting the purchase of the iconic red CHUF vests for runners. CHUF recently announced that Great North Run runners were able to raise over £70,000 for the charity.
The Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) is a service which supports children and families who receive treatment for heart conditions at the Freeman Hospital, and other North East hospitals. The Freeman Hospital is one of only two places in the UK that offer bridge to transplant operations and paediatric transplants, and it is a lifeline for young people and their families who require this care.
The money raised in the Great North Run, and the donations to CHUF go towards funding equipment at the Freeman Hospital, and around the North East, as well as facilities at the hospitals, salaries for the medical professionals supporting young people with heart conditions, aftercare for patients and their families, and research into cardiac conditions and care. It’s a holistic service which aims to support children, their communities and the NHS to provide the best possible service throughout one of the most difficult experiences.
Director Tom Tinsley is a member of Claremont Road Runners, and last ran the Great North Run for CHUF in 2022. In 2024, he completed the Great North Run again, and crossed the line at 1 hour, 33 minutes and 38 seconds, meaning that he was third in his age category overall.
‘I’ve always enjoyed running,’ says Tom, ‘and the Great North Run is a perfect opportunity to challenge myself, do what I love and raise some money for local charities. It brings together people from different parts of the North East and the country, and everyone has the same goal - crossing that line and raising the money for people and organisations who depend on it. It is a really wonderful atmosphere, and I’m looking forward to running again in 2025.’
If you’re interested in taking on a new challenge in 2025, you can sign up to take on the Great North Run with the rest of Team CHUF now. It costs £50 to register, and CHUF requests that you pledge to raise £250 in sponsorship for the charity. CHUF also supports those who are fundraising by providing runners with resources and support to reach their sponsorship goal.
‘CHUF was in the top 5% of JustGiving charities for the Great North Run,’ says Tom, ‘and I think that speaks to how important the people of the North East view the charity’s work. We’ve always had a close relationship with CHUF, as it was founded by Anne Scott; Transcendit Director Dave Scott's mum.’
‘Since 1979 it has gone from strength to strength, continuing to support young people who need cardiac care. The dedicated team at CHUF makes a huge difference in the lives of children and young people in the local community, aswell as patients who live outside of the North East. We’re chuffed to see it getting the funding and the recognition it deserves!’
Donate to CHUF, or sign up to run the Great North Run 2025 for CHUF
