Newcastle to Soweto: Race for Peace 2026 launches - first confirmed runner North East Mayor Kim McGuinness

Today, Founder Tim Cantle-Jones and The Race for Peace’s Lindsay Cessford met with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to discuss the Race for Peace pledge and present her with the Mayor’s official event T-shirt, marking the launch of Race for Peace 2026 - a people-powered, youth-led initiative that connects Newcastle and South Africa and partners around the world. Following two years of test events beginning in Soweto and, this year, extending to Japan and Switzerland. Race for Peace 2026 will take place on Tuesday 16 June 2026, with inclusive 5K run-jog-walk events and cross-cultural celebrations uniting more than 20 cities/countries in a single day of remembrance, creativity, and togetherness.

"I'm proud to be the first confirmed runner for Race for Peace 2026. The North East is a proud, welcoming region, and this event perfectly captures our spirit of bringing people together at a time when division threatens to undermine our communities”. Says North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness.

The event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, when on June 16th, 1976, over 170 school children were shot and killed by the security forces for protesting against Apartheid. A story, spanning 30 years in the making, Race for Peace was founded by Tim Cantle-Jones, who has spent three decades linking the North East and South Africa through sport and culture. Appointed in 1992 as Project Manager of the UK/South Africa Sports Initiative to help build multi-racial sports structures post-Apartheid, Tim received a Peacemaker Award from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a commendation from Nelson Mandela - experience that now powers a movement for unity across global communities.

“My time in South Africa allowed me to witness first hand the role that Sport can play in bringing communities together. When I first went there in 1992 the country was on the verge of civil war, it was Nelson Mandela’s drive to bring the nation together through sport that helped ensure a peaceful transition to democracy.” Says Tim Cantle-Jones

"Sport has an incredible power to unite us across all backgrounds and borders. As we build the North East into a region of sport, initiatives like Race for Peace remind us of the power sport can have, creating spaces where everyone belongs and everyone can thrive’. Says Kim McGuinness

More than a race, each city will be encouraged to curate its own grassroots cultural showcase - music, spoken word, dance and storytelling pairing artists across borders for cross-cultural performances. The UK flagship at Wylam Brewery, Newcastle will be live-linked to a sister event at Trackside in Soweto, sharing stages, stories and shout-outs in real time so audiences can connect and celebrate as one. Trackside is a community-run space in Soweto that platforms local artists, youth and grassroots organisers.”

"I'm determined that the North East will be the home of real opportunity - welcoming to all communities and standing firm against the divisive rhetoric we've seen too often. Race for Peace isn't just about remembering the past; it's about the future we're building together, street by street, school by school, showing what true northern spirit looks like when we come together as one." says Kim McGuinness.

As part of the wider mission to boost participation and community cohesion, Race for Peace invites North East schools to organise events to promote Peace. On 16 June, pupils will lead 2km School Peace Walks, completing the peaceful protest that in 1976, Soweto’s learners were never allowed to finish, and host Cultural School Events from murals to mini-festivals. Working with Race for Peace Youth Ambassadors, we’ll bring schools together through a series of evolving activities such as Global Creative Challenges and facilitated exchanges (pen-pals, poem swaps, Day-in-the-Life links). Toolkits will be provided. Every activity aims to connect classrooms locally and globally while feeding directly into the initiative’s goals of participation, community cohesion, and bringing communities together across the North East and around the world.

“The Race for Peace is an opportunity for people around the world to show they care for each other. I hope it can be a catalyst for communities to come together to celebrate our differences and promote diversity.” Says Tim Cantle-Jones

Confirmed locations already include Newcastle and London (UK); Soweto and Cape Town (South Africa); Neuchâtel (Switzerland); Shinshiro (Japan); Agago (Uganda); Herceg Novi (Montenegro); Neuenburg (Germany); Nové Hrady (Czech Republic); Neufchâteau (Belgium); Nyborg (Denmark); Nové Zámky (Slovakia); Jaunpils (Latvia) - with more cities and schools expected to join after our official launch. Partners supporting the movement include the Tsietsi Mashinini Foundation, Youth Charter, NE Youth, Smart Grid Communities, and Newcastles of the World.

Editors notes

Mission & what peace means

Race for Peace exists to bring communities together, street by street, school by school, city by city, using sport as a catalyst for change and grassroots culture as the glue that holds us together. In the North East, that means opening the start line to everyone - run-jog-walk, even dance. This is an inclusive event bringing people together through movement and meaningful engagement: turning stages into shared spaces to showcase grassroots artists from the region as well as a few special guests performing shoulder-to-shoulder with partners in Soweto, and showing the country what true northern spirit looks like when we move and make together. When we say peace, we mean a lived practice of dignity, safety, fairness and opportunity, people listening across differences, looking out for each other, and building the future together.

For more information on how to get involved email: lindsay@raceforpeace.world

To sign up for Newcastle Flagship event on 16 June 2026 go to www.raceforpeace.world/newcastlesignup