The launch for the 2010 Greggs Children's Cancer Run got off to a great start yesterday with local celebrities turning up to start the countdown to the race in May.

The launch, which received substantial press coverage, celebrated the charity reaching the phenomenal milestone of £5,000,000 raised since the run began, and the launch also marked the start of the countdown to the run on the 9^th May. Showing their support for the race were local celebrities including England and Durham cricketer Steve Harmison, comedian Brendan Healy, ex-Toon star Paul Bracewell and rugby legend Steve Black.

The Greggs Children's Cancer Run is a five-mile fun run, which raises money for the North East Children's Cancer Research (NECCR), bringing hope to thousands of unfortunate children around the world.

The launch was a huge success, achieving regional TV, press and radio coverage including, South Shields Gazette, News Post Leader and Guardian, Journal, Northern Echo, Metro Radio, ITV and week long coverage in the Chronicle.

Chairman of the run committee, Chris Peacock said, "The launch was brilliant and I was more than impressed. You have excelled at getting the personal angle I was looking for and I have had numerous messages of congratulations and thanks."

Account Manager at Silver Bullet, Jennifer Tate, commented, "The Children's Cancer Run is such a fantastic, local charity and it is an honour to work with them. Receiving such huge coverage through all mediums of the press will hopefully mean thousands more people will be aware of the run and what it is raises money for, and therefore sign up immediately.

"The usual race attendance is 10,000 runners, however after a recent article regarding the online launch for the run appeared in the Chronicle we had 1,100 online entries in two days, so we are definitely on track to beat last year."