Former PM Visits North East To Raise Funds For Sports Foundation

Friday 2nd May 2008

TONY BLAIR touched base in Tyneside last Friday to hand over £50,000 from his own pocket to those raising cash for his sports foundation.

The former Prime Minister was given the last 100 spots in the Great North Run which will be handed to competitors who promise to raise £1,000 each for the Tony Blair Sports Foundation.

And to get them off the mark Mr Blair said yesterday he would personally sponsor each person with £500. His charity was set up last year to encourage young people in the North East to take coaching roles in sport.

Better Shape

Yesterday he took to the treadmill beside race organiser Brendan Foster at Gateshead International Stadium as he pledged his own money to volunteers.

And after jogging 163 metres – the length of the Tyne Bridge – he admitted he was in better shape than when he left office.

He said: “Towards the beginning of my time in office, I realised physical fitness was an important part of doing the job. It’s a very physically-demanding job and therefore keeping fit is important. But since I have left, I have been able to regulate my life and take more exercise.

“Setting up the foundation is different to dealing with things like the NHS, but it’s all important because it’s all part of the same thing. It’s about helping people into physical fitness, and that is a major factor in the years to come because of the ageing population and because we are dealing with more and more different conditions. We have to make sure people lead more healthy lives.”

Mr Blair looked trimmer and fitter than in his official portrait unveiled this week – and to prove it he was put through his paces by young athletes.

Unfazed

National-standard 100m sprinter Faye Bowles, 16, of Cavendish Close, Darlington, gave Mr Blair his first taste of sprinting from the blocks. And the teenager was unfazed after meeting the former Number 10 resident.

She said: “I’ve actually met him before, but he won’t remember that. He came to a training session at my club, the Darlington Harriers, and I did a demonstration then. But after seeing him twice, I’d say he has potential as a runner.”

Also spectating were the first youngsters to benefit from the foundation.

Chance To Coach

Four Gateshead College pupils have been sponsored on athletics training courses so they can nurture the next generation. Michael Briggs, 19, of Imeary Street, South Shields, said the foundation had given him the chance to coach.

“It helped pay for my course and has given me the chance to do what I’ve always wanted to do. I train with South Shields Harriers in the 100m, the 200m and the long jump, but I’m only really competing so I can learn how to coach.”

Compiled by Nicola Bamford.