Please join us in celebrating our Team TOFS runners for the 2025 Great North Run.
Running to support TOFS are:
- Amy Potts
- Neil Browne
- Rebecca Spence
- Tom Larby
- Michelle Shotton
Please read on to see their stories and consider supporting them via People’s Fundraising
Meet your runners!
Amy Potts
This September, I’m proud and a little nervous to be running the Great North Run in support of a charity that means the world to me – TOFS, the UK charity supporting people born with Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula (TOF) and Oesophageal Atresia (OA).
Our daughter Maeve was born with TOF/OA in May 2021; within hours of her birth, she needed life-saving surgery. The days, weeks, and months that followed were some of the toughest of our lives.
The journey has been far from easy, with endless hospital admissions, procedures and challenges; she continues to conquer anything that comes her way and has taught us so much about resilience.
Through it all, TOFS were there, providing us with guidance, reassurance, and a community that truly understood what we were going through. They’ve continued to support us on this journey, and now I want to give something back.
By sponsoring me, you’ll help TOFS continue their incredible work.
Every donation, no matter how small, helps families facing the challenges of TOF/OA. If you can support me, it would mean the world — not just to me, but to the many children this charity helps every single day.
Thank you so much for your kindness and support!
Neil Browne
Neil is using his own ballot place to run in support of TOFS.
On 11th September 2023, our son Arlo was born with a rare condition that effects 1 in 3,500 babies know as TOF/OA (Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula/Oesophageal Atresia).
In terms we could understand it was explained to us, Arlo was born unable to swallow as his oesophagus was not attached to his stomach and he had to have life saving surgery at the Great North Children’s Hospital, just 16 hours after he was born.
Arlo continued to spend the next 5 weeks in hospital between PICU and Ward 9, needing another surgery at 3 weeks old for pyloric stenosis, which meant that the milk he was swallowing could not exit his stomach and he would vomit after each feed, terrifying the life out of us due to his condition.
Support from the NHS, GNCH and TOFs was invaluable to help us learn about our son’s rare diagnosis and begin to understand how we would support him as he was growing.
This year I am raising money for TOFS to thank them for their wonderful support & education for all families, GP’s and in fact anyone learning about this condition.
I know that bills are high and we are all feeling the pressure but anything you are able to donate would be massively appreciated ❤️
Rebecca Spence
I’m running the Great North Run – and this one’s personal.
I’ve done some running before… but nothing like this. 13.1 miles is officially “what on earth was I thinking?” territory. But I’m doing it because someone very special to me faces much bigger challenges every single day.
My niece was born with Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula (TOF), a rare condition where the food pipe and windpipe don’t connect properly. It’s meant surgeries, hospital stays, and an unpredictable journey since the very beginning of her life. She’s handled it all with more courage than I can put into words.
So while I might complain about sore legs, blisters, and the general indignity of running that far, I’m doing this for her and for TOFS, the brilliant charity that supports families dealing with this condition.
So please, if you can, support me (and more importantly, this incredible charity).
Let’s make every mile count!
Tom Larby
My name is Tom and I shall be completing the Great North Run in support of the TOFS charity.
I myself was born with a TOF condition, and admittedly until now have paid little attention to it, in main part due to the fantastic support I received throughout my formative years.
The thing that sticks with me is doctors supposedly telling my parents because of this condition that I would not be able to participate in a full ninety minutes of football due to the respiratory complications I also contracted. ‘He may make a good goalkeeper’ they were told.
Though today, I am active as I can be as an adult, even before training for this half marathon, I ran every week, frequent weightlifting at my local gym, play football amongst other sports where time allows and until very
recently was a full time ski instructor and had travelled the world in this previous sports coaching role.
I have always aimed to do a Great North Run one day, being a local who grew up in Northumberland, and thought what better way to get involved than by contributing to and learning more about the charity that
offered extensive support and guidance to my family as a new-born with a Tracheal Oesophageal Fistula.
I hope to further the number of families who are able to navigate the complexities of OA/TOF as well as inspire some children with similar diagnosis.
Michelle Shotton
Michelle is using her own ballot place to run in support of TOFS.
I’m Running the Great North Run for TOFS and The Sick Children’s Trust.
On the 7th of September, I’ll be running the Great North Run to raise money for two incredible charities that have supported my family in ways I’ll never forget.
In April 2023, our beautiful son Albie was born with a rare condition called Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula (TOF). We had never even heard of it before. His first few months were spent in and out of intensive care at Newcastle RVI, facing multiple operations and a frightening diagnosis of severe tracheomalacia (floppy airways). It was one of the hardest times we’ve ever experienced.
Thanks to the brilliant surgical and medical teams, and the unwavering love and support of our family and friends, Albie is now a happy, thriving little boy. But we could not have made it through without two vital charities.
