Members of the Everlast Gyms team prepare for a special 5K fundraising challenge at Metrocentre. On 21 November 2026, the shopping centre's malls will become a running route in support of If U Care Share Foundation. Photograph: Supplied by Metrocentre
An extraordinary early-morning charity run will see Metrocentre's shopping malls transformed into a 5K running route on Saturday 21 November, as two local personal trainers honour the memory of a friend and raise vital funds for suicide prevention.
Shoppers visiting Metrocentre are more accustomed to seeing people walking between stores than running through the shopping centre's corridors.
But later this month, one of the North East's best-known shopping destinations will become the setting for a very special charity event.
On Saturday 21 November 2026, Metrocentre will host its first indoor 5K run, organised by two personal trainers from Everlast Gym.
The event will raise funds for If U Care Share, a North East charity dedicated to suicide prevention and supporting people affected by suicide.
It has been organised by Alex Graham, 24, and his colleague Chaya Blackett, 30, in memory of Alex's friend Ben Goodman, who died by suicide at the age of 24.
The organisers hope the unusual setting will encourage runners from across Newcastle, Gateshead and the wider North East to take part, while helping to start important conversations about mental health.
For residents of Newcastle Great Park, Gosforth and surrounding communities, it is an opportunity to support a meaningful local cause while experiencing Metrocentre in a way few people ever have.
A Run Inspired by the Memory of a Friend
The idea for the 5K event began with an earlier fundraising challenge at Everlast Gym in September.
Alex and Chaya organised a treadmill challenge in memory of Ben Goodman, bringing together gym members, colleagues, family and friends.
The group collectively ran an extraordinary 1,450 kilometres in just two days.
That is approximately the length of the United Kingdom.
More than 200 people participated, with local businesses Sanco Pizza and Acropolis supporting the fundraiser by providing complimentary food and drinks.
What began as a personal tribute quickly became a much larger community effort.
Alex said the response had exceeded their expectations.
He explained that the original aim was to honour Ben and support his family, but the willingness of so many people to take part was overwhelming.
The fundraiser also encouraged participants to speak openly about their own experiences of mental health difficulties and loss.
For Alex, those conversations demonstrated just how important it is to keep raising awareness and encouraging people to seek support.
The success of the treadmill challenge gave the organisers an idea for something even bigger.
Instead of running inside the gym, why not take the fundraiser out into the shopping centre itself?
Everlast Gym personal trainers Alex Graham and Chaya Blackett, who are organising Metrocentre's first indoor 5K charity run on Saturday 21 November 2026. The event will honour the memory of Alex's friend Ben Goodman and raise funds for suicide prevention charity If U Care Share. Photograph: Supplied by Metrocentre
Metrocentre's Shopping Malls Will Become a 5K Route
The result is a unique early-morning running event through Metrocentre.
Participants will set off at 6:45am on Saturday 21 November, before the shopping centre opens to shoppers.
The organisers plan to transform the building's shopping malls and levels into an indoor running course.
The route will take runners through various parts of the centre, including its multi-storey car park.
Runners will then return to Red Mall, where they will cross the finish line outside Sports Direct.
It promises to be a memorable experience, with participants able to run through a shopping centre normally associated with busy retail crowds.
The event is scheduled to finish by approximately 8am, before the centre opens for its normal Saturday trading.
Four Running Waves to Suit Different Abilities
Participants will be divided into four groups according to their estimated finishing times.
The organisers have planned separate waves for:
Runners expecting to complete 5K in under 20 minutes.
Runners aiming for under 25 minutes.
Runners aiming for under 30 minutes.
Those joining a more relaxed fun run.
The groups will set off at five-minute intervals, helping to spread runners along the indoor course.
The inclusion of a fun-run wave is intended to encourage participation beyond competitive runners.
The organisers hope people will take part not simply to achieve a personal best, but to support the charity, remember Ben and help raise awareness of suicide prevention.
How to Register and Take Part
Anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to register in advance.
Registration is being handled through Eventbrite.
Participants are being asked to make a minimum donation of £5, with all money raised going to If U Care Share.
Race bib collection will take place at Everlast Gym, Metrocentre, on:
Wednesday 18 November 2026
and
Thursday 19 November 2026
Participants will be asked to make their donation when collecting their bib.
The gym is situated in Upper Red Mall, above Sports Direct, making it convenient for runners to find before the event.
The organisers have not provided specific bib-collection opening hours in the information supplied, so participants should check their registration details.
For information about the venue, visit:
https://themetrocentre.co.uk/stores/everlast-gyms
To find the event registration, search Eventbrite for the Metrocentre indoor 5K run supporting If U Care Share.
Local Running Groups Supporting the Event
The charity run has also attracted the backing of running and fitness groups from across the region.
Among those attending will be SpeedX, a Newcastle-based fitness group led by Sam Dibbs-Fuller.
The organisers will also be supported by Sunderland-based Believe to Run, headed by Joe Larkin.
Their involvement will help create a supportive atmosphere for participants of different running abilities.
The event is intended to bring together gym members, running groups, friends, families and members of the public around a shared cause.
Runners Invited Back for Celebrations After the Finish
The morning will not end when the final runners cross the finishing line.
Following the run, participants will be invited back to Everlast Gym for a special post-event gathering.
Refreshments will be available, along with a prize-giving ceremony.
A small marketplace will also feature stalls from If U Care Share and local businesses.
There will also be a charity raffle, with a particularly exciting prize for Newcastle United supporters.
Two tickets to see Sam Fender perform at St James' Park have been donated by a friend in Ben Goodman's honour.
The organisers hope these additional activities will make the event feel like a community occasion rather than simply a sporting challenge.
They also provide an opportunity for participants to learn more about the charity and the important services it delivers.
Chaya Blackett: Bringing People Together Matters Most
Co-organiser Chaya Blackett said the support for the fundraising efforts had been remarkable.
She explained that colleagues, gym members, local clubs and Metrocentre itself had all helped turn the idea into something much larger.
But beyond the sporting challenge and fundraising total, Chaya believes the event's greatest impact could come from the conversations it encourages.
She said:
"Most importantly, it’s bringing people together – runner, spectator, or volunteer."
Chaya hopes the event will help create a welcoming environment where people feel able to talk about their experiences and know that support is available.
Her message is that nobody should have to struggle alone, and that a sense of community can make a meaningful difference.
Metrocentre Backs the Fundraising Challenge
Metrocentre has worked with the organisers to make the unusual indoor event possible.
Helen Atkinson, Metrocentre's Marketing Manager, said the shopping centre recognised the significance of the idea when Alex and Chaya first approached the team.
She explained that Ben's memory had inspired an event that would support a much-needed charity while bringing people together.
Metrocentre hopes the event will encourage more open conversations about mental health and help challenge the silence that can sometimes surround emotional difficulties.
The event will also showcase the generosity and community spirit of people across the North East.
What Is If U Care Share?
The money raised will support If U Care Share Foundation, a North East charity providing suicide prevention services and support for people affected by suicide.
The organisation was established in memory of Daniel O'Hare, who died by suicide at the age of 19.
The charity's work focuses on three important areas:
Prevention: Helping people experiencing suicidal thoughts access emotional and practical support.
Intervention: Working with people at risk and providing opportunities to seek appropriate help.
Bereavement support: Supporting individuals and families affected by the loss of someone to suicide.
If U Care Share also provides training, educational workshops and awareness programmes to encourage conversations about mental health.
Its services help people understand where support is available and how they can assist others who may be struggling.
The charity believes that speaking openly and reaching out can make a difference.
Fundraising events such as the Metrocentre 5K help sustain this important work.
You can learn more about the charity or make a separate donation at:
https://www.ifucareshare.co.uk/
Why This Event Matters to Great Park Residents
The Metrocentre is a familiar destination for many families living in Newcastle Great Park.
It is somewhere residents visit regularly for shopping, entertainment, eating out and leisure.
But on Saturday 21 November, it will provide the setting for an event with a much deeper purpose.
The run offers residents an opportunity to support a North East charity while remembering a young man whose life was tragically cut short.
It is also an opportunity to encourage conversations about mental health.
Mental health difficulties can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, including friends, neighbours, colleagues and family members.
Sometimes, those experiencing difficulties may not feel comfortable talking about what they are going through.
By bringing people together in a positive and supportive environment, the organisers hope the event will encourage understanding, openness and connection.
For anyone considering taking part, the message is that the event is about much more than running five kilometres.
It is about remembering Ben, supporting others and demonstrating what a community can achieve when people come together.
Metrocentre Indoor 5K: Everything You Need to Know
Event: Metrocentre Indoor 5K Charity Run
Date: Saturday 21 November 2026
Start time: 6:45am
Expected finish: By approximately 8am
Location: Metrocentre, Gateshead, NE11 9YG
Distance: 5 kilometres
Route: Through Metrocentre's shopping malls, multiple levels and multi-storey car park, finishing in Red Mall outside Sports Direct
Running groups: Under 20 minutes, under 25 minutes, under 30 minutes and a fun-run wave
Start intervals: Five minutes between waves
Minimum donation: £5 per participant
Charity: If U Care Share Foundation
Registration: Through Eventbrite
Race bib collection: Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November at Everlast Gym, Metrocentre
After the run: Refreshments, prize-giving, a charity marketplace and raffle at Everlast Gym
Special raffle prize: Two Sam Fender tickets for St James' Park, donated in Ben Goodman's memory
Organisers: Alex Graham and Chaya Blackett, Everlast Gym
Supporting running groups: Newcastle-based SpeedX and Sunderland-based Believe to Run
For updates about the centre, visit:
Supporting Each Other Beyond the Event
While the fundraiser will provide an unusual and enjoyable challenge for runners, its underlying message is an important one.
Mental health difficulties do not always have visible signs.
Someone who appears happy, active or confident may still be experiencing distress.
Listening without judgement, checking in with friends and family, and knowing where to find professional support can all help create a more compassionate community.
For those affected by suicide, whether through bereavement or personal experiences of mental health difficulties, support is available.
If U Care Share can be contacted on 0191 387 5661 during its office hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The charity also promotes a confidential, around-the-clock crisis text service.
Text IUCS to 85258 to connect with a trained volunteer.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
For more information, visit:
https://www.ifucareshare.co.uk/
A Special Run for a Special Cause
Alex Graham and Chaya Blackett have already shown what can be achieved when people come together for a meaningful cause.
Their September treadmill challenge united more than 200 participants and covered the equivalent length of the United Kingdom.
Now they are taking that same determination beyond the gym and into one of the region's biggest shopping centres.
Their hope is that every kilometre completed, every donation made and every conversation started will help honour Ben's memory.
For residents of Newcastle Great Park and the wider North East, the event offers a chance to be part of something positive, supportive and memorable.
Saturday 21 November promises to be more than an early-morning run. It will be a demonstration of friendship, remembrance and community spirit.
And at the heart of it all is a simple message: nobody should feel that they have to face difficult times alone.
Have Your Say
Are you planning to take part in Metrocentre's indoor 5K challenge?
Perhaps you have previously supported If U Care Share or another local mental health charity.
Great Park Gazette would love to hear from residents who are taking part, volunteering or supporting the event.
You can also help by sharing the details with friends, family, colleagues and local running groups.
Every participant, donation and shared conversation can help raise awareness of this important cause.
Information supplied directly to Great Park Gazette by Metrocentre's public relations team on Monday 9 November 2026.
Further sources: Metrocentre, Everlast Gyms and If U Care Share Foundation.
