CLLR MATT COOKE COMPLETES GREAT NORTH RUN 08

6^th October 2008

Matt Cooke, Labour Councillor for Bounds Green Ward yesterday completed the Great North Run in Newcastle for the Tony Blair Sports Foundation – a charity which helps socially excluded families and young people from through training opportunities in sport.

Matt’s time was 1hr59mins45sec and he came 12,719^th out of the 52,000 runners competing. The Great North Run is a half marathon (13.1miles) through the City of Newcastle ending up in South Shields on the North Eastern coast.

Speaking after the event Matt said:

“This was an amazing experience, the crowds lining the route were just fantastic and really gave everyone running a huge boost. The Great North Run is a tough, hilly course but getting to the sea at the end and crossing that line makes it all worthwhile”

“Knowing you’re running for such a worthwhile charity which is really going to transform people’s lives is also very inspiring when you’re out there feeling the pain during the run, and knowing that people have donated and are counting on you to finish really kept me going”

You can still sponsor matt at www.justgiving.com/mattcooke or by sending a cheque made payable to the ‘Tony Blair Sports Foundation’ to: Cllr Matt Cooke, Members’ Room, River Park House, High Road, Wood Green, N22

ENDS

N.B. Photo attached is of Matt Cooke and Rebecca Adlington - Double British Olympic Gold medallist chatting together after the Great North Run.

Notes for editors:

1. Find out more information on the Tony Blair Sports Foundation at:

http://tonyblairsportsfoundation.org/

2. Matt Cooke’s Cllr website, a resource for all the local community can be

found at: www.boundsgreenhome.com

3. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/mattcooke

4. Current photographs can be arranged by calling Matt on: 07814

238 115

5. You can fin out more info on the Great North Run at

http://www.greatrun.org/