BUSINESSES across Carlisle are uniting to run to support a vital children’s charity in the city.

A team of six runners will be heading over to the north east in a little over a month’s time to run the Great North Run in aid of Carlisle Youth Zone.

The team taking on the 13.1-mile challenge includes CYZ staff Lynsey Buckle and Fiona Fergus.

They will be joined by Cumberland Building Society’s Grant Seaton, NXT Recruitment’s James Mawson, Baines Wilson’s Martha Winn and Kingmoor Park’s Emily Robson.

The team has set itself a target of raising £4,000 for Carlisle Youth Zone, the young people’s charity based in Victoria Place which supports more than 1,200 young people every week.

The Simplyhealth Great North Run is the world’s biggest half marathon, from Newcastle to South Shields, with 57,000 runners taking part every year.

Lynsey, who is development manager for Carlisle Youth Zone, said: “We’re absolutely delighted our patrons have felt inspired to enter this challenge to raise funds for the youth zone. All the money raised will directly support some of the most vulnerable young people in the city.

“This year has been so humbling for us at CYZ; so many people and businesses stepping up to do amazing things, hosting events and volunteering their time.”

For Lynsey the event may not be as tough as for others, as she has already completed an ultramarathon this year.

She took on The Wall - a non-stop 69 mile endurance race - in June, starting at Carlisle Castle and finishing at the Millenium Bridge, Gateshead.

She admitted afterwards: “It was the hardest and most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.

“The early hours of Sunday were the worst when we managed to get lost - turning the 69mile ultramarathon into 73-miles.

“I still don’t know exactly how we managed to get to that finish line, but we did - and I’ve got the medal to prove it.”

The Great North Run team is asking people to sponsor them and help CYZ support young people in need this summer.

To donate, you can visit any of the team’s online fundraising pages. They are:

Grant Seaton: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=GrantSeaton1&pageUrl=1

Martha Winn: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=MarthaWinn&pageUrl=1

James Mawson: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=JamesMawson3&pageUrl=1

Emily Robson:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=EmilyRobson&pageUrl=2

Lynsey Buckle: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-portal/fundraiserPage?pageId=1086378

Alternatively, to donate £5, text CYZONE to 70970 or to donate £10, text CYZONE to 70191