Northern Lights Newcastle is joining forces with the Alan Shearer Foundation this Christmas, inviting visitors to count their walk around the festive light trail towards the Foundation’s Move a Mile challenge.
The challenge encourages people across the North East and beyond to walk, run, cycle or move one mile in any way they can, with a collective target of 52,719 miles, one for every seat inside St James’ Park, which sits in view of the trail at Leazes Park.
Alan Shearer will visit the trail during its six-week run to complete his own mile alongside members of the Alan Shearer Centre. Northern Lights is providing 100 complimentary tickets for centre members and their carers, building on its relationship with the Alan Shearer Centre, which began in 2024.
Visitors can add an optional £5 donation when booking tickets online, with their mile automatically counted towards the campaign’s target. On the trail, QR codes along the route let visitors log their own mile and donate.
Alan Shearer said: “The response to Move a Mile has been brilliant. We’ve had people taking part all over the world, but there’s something really special about bringing it back to Newcastle, particularly with St James’ Park just over the road.
“Northern Lights is a fantastic way for families to get involved, enjoy a great night out and support something that means a lot to me. I’m looking forward to getting down there, completing my mile alongside some of the Centre’s members and hopefully encouraging thousands more people to do the same.”
Move a Mile is part of the Foundation’s Million Pound Mission, launched in April 2026 to build a second hydrotherapy pool at the Alan Shearer Centre. With more than 10,000 members and their families relying on the Centre’s free specialist facilities, demand has placed increasing pressure on its existing pool. A second pool will increase capacity, reduce waiting times and help more children and adults with complex disabilities access the therapy they need.
Claire Knight, whose daughter Wren uses the hydrotherapy pool at the Alan Shearer Centre, and who leads the North-East SEN Collective, said: “My daughter Wren is non-verbal and autistic, and she absolutely loves being in the water. She’s a sensory seeker, so the sensory experience of the hydrotherapy pool brings her so much enjoyment and comfort. For children with additional needs, the warmth and support of the water can help them relax, move more comfortably and explore movement in ways that may be difficult on land. A second pool would mean more families waiting for sessions could experience those benefits. I would love others to have that opportunity too.”
Emma St. Croix, Senior Marketing Manager at From The Fields, which produces Northern Lights, said: “There’s something special about walking the trail with St James’ Park lit up just beyond the trees, and we can’t think of a better place for Alan and the Centre’s members to take on their mile. We’ve been proud to work with the Alan Shearer Centre since 2024, and we hope our visitors will help bring the second pool a step closer this Christmas.”
Since arriving at Leazes Park in 2023, Northern Lights has raised more than £100,000 for local causes. In its first year, it pledged up to £10,000 in matched donations to help restore the park’s children’s playground, helping raise £21,000 in total. This year, it continues to support charities including Newcastle Hospitals Charity, whose young patients are creating artwork for the trail, Newcastle United Foundation and the North-East SEN Collective, alongside free tickets for local residents.
Northern Lights Newcastle returns to Leazes Park from 20 November to 31 December 2026. This year’s trail, A Christmas Time Machine, features installations inspired by toys, traditions and festive memories, including a giant rainbow Slinky, 65 illuminated Rubik’s Cubes and a kaleidoscope walkthrough. Tickets and visitor information are available at northernlightsnewcastle.com. To find out more about the Million Pound Mission and Move a Mile, visit alanshearerfoundation.org.uk/the-million-pound-mission
