Durham Women Head Coach Danielle Hazell and Academy and Pathway Performance Director Will Gidman will take on the Great North Run this Sunday, raising funds for Durham Cricket Foundation.
Hazell and Gidman will join a team of 12 runners representing the Foundation over the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields, supporting its work to grow cricket and create opportunities across the North East.
Both are raising funds to support the Foundation’s work across the region, which reaches more than 30,000 people each year through schools, clubs, player development and community programmes.
Danielle Hazell said: “I am really excited, it will be such a great occasion for everyone in the North East, I have definitely wanted to do the run for a few years now, so I am really looking forward to the crowds, to running with everyone else and getting over the finish line in good time.
“The main thing is to enjoy the occasion with everyone and raise some money for Durham Cricket Foundation. Cricket is very close to my heart and being from Durham, going in at Christmas to Newcastle Hospitals as part of the Foundation’s Hospital Programme, it opens your eyes to the fact that if you can do something a little bit different for somebody else it can make a big difference. “
Will Gidman said: “The Foundation’s work is hugely important to the wider Club. It’s where so many young people first get the opportunity to engage with cricket and that connection between communities, clubs and our pathway is vital if we want the game in the region to continue to grow.
“In my role, I see the other end of that journey, working with young players who have the ambition to progress through the pathway and ultimately into the professional game. That doesn’t happen without a strong grassroots network creating opportunities for people to discover cricket in the first place, so I’m really pleased to be able to support the Foundation and the work they do. I am looking forward to the Great North Run and shouting about my chosen causes.”
Graeme Weeks, Chief Executive of Durham Cricket Foundation, said: “Having Dani and Will take on the Great North Run for the Foundation means a great deal to us. Both have hugely influential roles within Durham Cricket, developing players and shaping the future of the game, so to have them personally commit to supporting our work in this way is incredibly meaningful.
“The connection between the Club and Foundation is really important. Our work creates opportunities for thousands of people to discover cricket, develop within the game and become part of the Durham cricket community, and having Dani and Will get behind that work sends a powerful message about how much it is valued.
“We’re also incredibly grateful to all 12 of our runners. Taking on the Great North Run is a significant commitment and every one of them is giving their time and energy to help us continue making an impact across the region. We’ll be very proud to see them representing the Foundation on Sunday.”
This year’s Great North Run campaign will support the breadth of the Foundation’s work, with runners also championing three key areas: its long-standing partnership with the Great North Children’s Hospital, the newly established SEND Player Pathway and the continued development of women and girls’ cricket.
At the Great North Children’s Hospital, Foundation coaches deliver cricket-based activities on the wards three days each week. Funds raised will help enhance the project with additional activities and experiences for young patients and their families, including Christmas gifts during the annual Durham player visit and special cricket experiences.
The Foundation’s SEND Player Pathway, launched earlier this year, provides talented young people with special educational needs and disabilities with free development sessions and playing opportunities. The Foundation currently self-funds the pathway, with money raised helping to keep the programme free, support its long-term sustainability and work towards establishing a Durham representative SEND team.
Fundraising will also support the development of women and girls’ cricket across the region, helping the Foundation build on growing participation by introducing more young people to the game, creating routes into local clubs and providing opportunities to continue playing and developing.
The Foundation’s Great North Run team will be wearing specially produced running shirts, kindly provided by Newlands Sports in support of this year’s campaign.
The Foundation would like to thank Newlands Sports for their support and all 12 runners for representing the charity in this year’s Great North Run.
The 12-strong Durham Cricket Foundation team will take on the Great North Run on Sunday, with supporters able to back individual runners or donate to the wider campaign.
Support Danielle, Will and the Durham Cricket Foundation Great North Run team on:
Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/dcfgnr2026
Or on Enthuse: https://ajbellgreatnorthrun2026.enthuse.com/durhamcricketfoundation/profile