Newcastle United interest in Great North Run boosted by Alan Shearer news

Newcastle United supporters may notice some familiar surnames on the Great North Run results page this year as the family of Magpies legend Alan Shearer take on the famous half-marathon.

The football club and the adored running race are intertwined with the Great Run company striking up special initiatives with Newcastle United. Earlier this year, participants fundraising for the Newcastle United Foundation in the Great North 10k were given special black-and-white numbers while free entry spots were handed out for the Great North Run for every goal scored against Southampton in the Carabao Cup meeting earlier this year.

The sea of 60,000 runners is always peppered with participants sporting the famous Newcastle United home kit, who are often afforded an extra big cheer from balmy spectators as they make the journey from the city centre to South Shields.

Magpies supporters may also want to look out for Chloe and Will Shearer, children of the legendary talisman, as they make their way around the course. The Shearers are raising money for the Alan Shearer Foundation and have had their campaign publicly backed by their famous father online.

Last week, Shearer wrote: "Chloe, Will & Hannah are running the GNR next month and would love £1 or whatever you can spare to sponsor them for a great cause, the Alan Shearer Foundation."

Newcastle United fans rallied behind the ask and messages of support from supporters came flooding in. Will Shearer took part in the Great North Run last year for his dad's foundation, completing the 13.1 miles in a time of one hour and 55 minutes.

The Alan Shearer Foundation supports the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle which is a highly specialist, disability, respite, residential and social provision for people with complex and acute disabilities and sensory impairments.

The charity has hosted fundraising events featuring local celebrities including Sam Fender, Sting and Ant & Dec which have raised tens of thousands of pounds to help disabled people through the Centre.