Published on 27 April 2022
Steve Cram has visited National Glass Centre (NGC) at the University of Sunderland’s St Peter’s campus to thank staff for creating a set of unique trophies for this year’s Sunderland City Half Marathon and 10K races.
The British retired track and field athlete dropped in to watch the team apply the finishing touches to four bespoke pieces of glass that will be handed out to the winners of the men’s and women’s events on Sunday 8 May. The trophies have been made by the glass centre in partnership with the University of Sunderland.
The Sunderland City Runs will take place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May, kicking off a summer of major sporting attractions in Sunderland. The two-day event is being organised through a partnership between Events of the North, Sunderland City Council and its Active Sunderland team, supported by Everyone Active.
The races will begin with the Northern Spire 5K on the evening of Saturday 7 May, followed on the morning of Sunday 8 May by the Sunderland City Half Marathon and 10K, and the Active Sunderland 3K. Organisers expect more than 3,000 runners to take part, including many who will be raising funds for Red Sky Foundation, the event’s new charity partner.
The routes for the half marathon and 10K both pass by NGC as runners head towards the marina and coast. Over the years, many staff from the centre and staff and students from the University have been involved in the Sunderland City Runs, either taking part in the races or as volunteers.
This will be the first time that special trophies will be included in the prizes that are presented to the winners.
Cram, a former University of Sunderland Chancellor, said: “National Glass Centre has always been one of the iconic landmarks that our runners see, and the routes take them to other University of Sunderland sites too.
"The institutions are integral to the Sunderland City Runs experience, so it’s brilliant that they’ve teamed up to create these beautiful trophies. I’m sure that they will provide an extra incentive to runners at the front end of our races, giving them the opportunity to earn unique mementos that will always remind them of a successful day.”
Rachel Smith, Director of National Glass Centre, said: “The team at National Glass Centre were delighted to create a series of bespoke hand-blown glass awards for Sunderland City Runs. We’ll be cheering for all the runners who pass our building during the events.”
There is still time to secure a place on one of the 2022 Sunderland City Runs races – entries close at 9am on the 5 May.
For more details, visit www.sunderlandcity10k.com