A North East charity and sporting event will help each other mark significant moments next month, when the weekend of this year’s 15th Sunderland City Runs coincides with the birthday of Bradley Lowery. The Bradley Lowery Foundation is aiming to field a team of 15 fundraisers at the SG Petch Sunderland City Runs 5K, on Saturday 16 May, the day before Bradley would have turned 15.
The SG Petch 2026 Sunderland City Runs will be held over the weekend of 16 and 17 May and are being organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Active Sunderland, Sunderland City Council. The two-day festival of running incorporates the new SG Petch Sunderland City Runs 5K on the evening of Saturday 16 May, and the Sunderland City 10K, Sunderland City Half Marathon and Active Sunderland BIG 3K on the morning of Sunday 17 May. The Bradley Lowery Foundation has 15 places on the 5K for runners to fundraise for the charity. The foundation is also encouraging people to sign up to join the ‘BLF Cheer Team’ during the event, which will be based close to Bradley’s beloved Stadium of Light, where volunteers, staff and the runners’ family members will be supporting runners.
Gemma Lowery, Bradley’s mam and CEO of The Bradley Lowery Foundation, comments: “The Bradley Lowery Foundation is so excited to celebrate two amazing anniversaries over the weekend of 16 and 17 May. The Sunderland City Runs are an incredible display of communities supporting each other through fundraising and fitness, lifting each other up over 15 years. It would have been Bradley’s 15th birthday on 17 May, and he would have been proud to see The Foundation collaborating with an event that involves so many of the people that supported him through his toughest times.”
SG Petch Sunderland City Runs founder Steve Cram adds: “Bradley was an inspiration to all of us – his positivity, passion and love for Sunderland always shone through, whatever he was going through at the time. Thanks to The Bradley Lowery Foundation, he leaves an enduring legacy that is doing a huge amount of vital work to support families who are facing childhood cancer, and to help fund research into the disease. As we celebrate the 15th edition of the Sunderland City Runs, we’ll remember Bradley and help the foundation to raise funds that will make a difference for other young people.”
The Bradley Lowery Foundation is inviting volunteers to join the BLF Cheer Team refreshment station during the event. Helpers will be needed from 6:00-8:00pm on Saturday 16 May. Anyone who is interested should send an email to ellie@bradleyloweryfoundation.com.
For more information about the SG Petch Sunderland City Runs and to book a place at the 2026 event, visit www.sunderlandcity10k.com
