The countdown is on for the Great North Run! 

Event date: Sunday 13 September 2026

The world's biggest half marathon is round the corner and you can be part of the action by signing up to Team Sands.  

It's hard not to feel a wave of emotion and excitement as you take your place on the iconic start line, surrounded by tens of thousands of fellow participants, ready to run from city to sea. And along the way, those fellow participants and roaring crowds become your support, your new friends, your memories, your experience.

With on-course music zones & charity cheering squads motivating you to keep those legs pumping, a world class elite race televised around the globe, and brilliant charity fundraisers raising millions for good causes, it really is an event like no other. 

Sign up

You can sign up in one of two ways. Either through a Sands charity place and commit to raise a minimum amount for Sands. Or you can use your own place from the ballot and fundraise what you can for Sands. 

Reg fee: £20

Minimum sponsorship: £300

All charity place runners must raise at least £50 out of £300 minimum sponsorship by Monday 22 June 2026.

Own Place

Reg fee: Free

Minimum sponsorship: Raise what you can for Sands.

As part of Team Sands you'll receive 

• Warm Sands welcome with fundraising ideas and training tips
• Supportive team emails and Team Sands WhatsApp group to get to know your team
• Free Sands running vest
• Team Sands cheer spot on race day
• Once-in-a-lifetime experience which will help save babies’ lives and support anyone affected by the death of a baby

The difference you will make

Sands want to ensure that everyone affected by the loss of a baby gets the support they need and deserve when facing the toughest of time.  We want to campaign for change and support research so that fewer babies die and so that fewer families experience the pain of losing a baby.

We all know someone who has lost a baby. So join Team Sands and help us continue to be there for them. 

The whole day was amazing, the atmosphere was incredible. All the supporters. It was lovely at the end of the race to visit the charity village and place a name on the memory tree it was lovely for myself and my family.

Great North Run participant, 2023

If you have any questions please email teamsands@sands.org.uk. We would love to talk to you about your fundraising plans this year. 

Volunteer at the Great North Run! 

Sands Cheer Squad

Join the official Team Sands Cheer Squad to cheer on our incredible Great North Run runners. We need cheerers from 09:30 until 2:00pm on race day, we plan to cheer by mile 5, by Kirkwood Gardens the felling bypass. Sign up today to be part of the Cheer Squad!

You will be supported by receiving:

• Free Sands t-shirt
• Pompoms and clappers to make some noise on the cheer point.
• Dedicated contact in our Volunteering Team and Events Team 

If you have any questions please email teamsands@sands.org.uk. We would love to talk to you about your fundraising plans this year.