RUNNERS from the district will be among the 57,000 participants in Sunday's Great North Run.

Seasoned competitors will be looking to build on their personal best times during the famous half marathon, from Newcastle to South Shields.

But runners of all abilities will be taking part for very different reasons, with many raising vital funds for worthy causes.

Among them is Liam Crowe (22) of Haydon Bridge, who is keen to raise awareness of the charity CALM, which supports men who are struggling with their mental health.

Liam lost his uncle, Damian Lee, and great uncle, John Cheyne, both to suicide in recent years, and is running in their memory.

He said: "I think CALM is a great charity. They are getting the message out there that it's okay not to be okay.

"I want to raise awareness of the work they do, and also to let people know that there is help out there."

A talented local footballer, Liam said he enjoyed keeping fit and active, and was looking forward to the Great North Run.

Prudhoe's Luke Humphreys is running in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, after losing his granddad, Keith Humphreys, of Crawcrook, to the disease aged 71, in February of this year.

Luke, who will be joined by his uncle, Paul Humphreys at the Great North Run, said the pair wanted to do their bit.

He explained: "My granddad took ill three months after his diagnosis, and he spent time at Marie Curie in Newcastle.

"They did everything they possible could to make him comfortable and the work they do is very much worthy of support."

The Courant has teamed up with the event's organisers to create a Race within a Race for local entrants.

Awards will be handed out for the first male and female finishers who reside within the Hexham Courant catchment area.

The weekend will kick-off on Saturday with the Great North 5k, and the biggest ever Junior & Mini Great North Run, with almost 9,000 children taking part.

Also on the Saturday, some of Britain's leading athletes will be competing at the Great North City Games, a live, televised athletics event in a pop-up arena on the Newcastle and Gateshead quayside.

For more information about the event, visit greatrun.org/north