Students raced round a city in search of the country’s favourite sausage roll – raising over £1,000 for the ME Association.
Members of the Newcastle University’s Athletics and Cross Country Club ran a relay round 31 Greggs shops in the city in honour of former club member Alice Barrett who went down with severe ME – after graduating from there with a first-class history degree in 2019.
The aim was to buy one of Greggs’ famous sausage rolls at one shop before using it as a baton to pass on to the next. Newcastle-upon-Tyne is the home of Greggs, having opened their first outlet there in Gosforth 40 years ago; the company’s main bakery, a big local employer, is also based in the city.
“We had a blast despite the torrential rain!”, said medical student Harriet Thompson, who organised the relay.
“Admittedly, we did get some funny looks but once explaining to the public it was for charity they definitely saw the light-headed side”, said the 24-year-old who is the club’s welfare officer.
Two older members of the club, Sam Hansen and Melissa Raine, who were students at the university at the same time as Alice Barrett, are pictured in one of our photos. Melissa is the woman seen eating a Greggs sausage roll in our featured image.
Club president Joe Drewe is also seen holding a well-wrapped sausage roll at the end of the 36k run – at a Greggs outlet inside a Tesco store.
Besides the Greggs relay, the club also organised their annual football match, a pub quiz and a raffle to raise money for the ME Association.
“Overall, we have therefore made £1008.48 for ME Association this year which is the most we have raised for charity for a number of years”, added Harriet.
“It has wonderful to work with a charity with such a personal link to some members of our team.”
https://www.gofundme.com/f/newcastle-university-athletics-greggs-relay
Tony Britton
Senior Fundraising Consultant, The ME Association
tony.britton@meassociation.org.uk Mob: 07393 805566
