Community to 'finish race' for GNR runner who died
A community is planning a special event in memory of Sam Wealleans, who died after the Great North Run.
People from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, where the 29-year-old grew up, will run or walk 3.3kms (2.1 miles) on 29 September, the distance he still had to complete when he collapsed on Sunday.
Mr Wealleans was running for the charity Mind in memory of his sister and his friend Matty, and his fundraising target 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."
"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 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.
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