Beauticians Tackle North 10K For Female Cancer Charity

Every runner has a story, it’s time to start your’s. Enter the Simplyhealth Great North 10k Gateshead at: Greatrun.org/North10k

Two beauty therapists are set to take on the Simplyhealth Great North 10k as part of the company’s aim to raise over £100,000 for a women’s cancer charity.

Kathryn Breen, from Gateshead, and Nicola Mark, from Sedgefield, both work at Saks Beauty Gosforth and are taking on the 10k challenge as part of the salon’s annual national charitable aim.

This year, Sak’s decided to support the Eve Appeal, a charity aimed at raising awareness and funds into research into gynaecological cancers.

The suggestion for this charity was made by staff who wanted to use the time that they spent with customers in the treatment rooms to talk about female cancers that were often a taboo subject.

They are taking on the Simplyhealth Great North 10k Gateshead on Sunday 8 July to contribute towards the salon raising £100,000 across two years.

Nicola, 43, who is the salon’s Franchisee, said: “Normally a lot of our fundraising happens in the salon itself through charity raffles and fundraisers but Nicola and I decided to really challenge ourselves by entering a 10k run.

“As part of the Saks family, we wanted to commit as a business to help raise awareness of women’s cancers so we started using the time we spent with customers to talk about the often too-little talked about subject.

“When we contacted the Eve Appeal, we found it really important that there were five gynaecological cancers that a lot of women don’t know about and don’t even know the symptoms of.

“We felt it was a really important cause to support and across the business, we have already raised a combined total of £125,000 which is amazing as it’s completely smashed our target!

“Neither of us are natural runners so this will be a really big challenge for us but it’s one we are both really looking forward to.”

The Simplyhealth Great North 10k features 5,000 runners who share the satisfaction of completing a 10k challenge, while taking in the sights of the NewcastleGateshead Quayside.

Participants then enter Gateshead International Stadium where their family and friends can gather to cheer them on as they experience their own finish line feeling.

Kathryn, 33, added: “We want to raise as much awareness as we can by fundraising but also encouraging others to talk about an often taboo subject, whether it be in our salon or if people spot our fundraising t-shirts at the Simplyhealth Great North 10k.

“As a mother myself and Nicky as an auntie we can’t stress the importance of encouraging girls and women of all ages to get checked and go for regular screenings.

“Our training is going really well and I think we’ve both surprised ourselves. We’ve both been out and about or in the gym and are up to around 7km so far in distance!”

To support the team’s fundraising for the Eve Appeal, visit: Justgiving.com/fundraising/teambeaut 

Every runner has a story, it’s time to start your’s. Enter the Simplyhealth Great North 10k Gateshead at: Greatrun.org/North10k