Alumni sweethearts return to Newcastle to celebrate 30 years since meeting with Great North Run challenge
Three decades after meeting in a Newcastle University laboratory, alumni couple Rob and Emma McCargow are returning to where it all began to take on the Great North Run and support the next generation of students.
10 September 2026
For Rob and Emma, the Great North Run is more than just 13.1 miles. It is a chance to celebrate 30 years since they first met as Medical Microbiology students at Newcastle University, and 20 years since they married.
Year after year, Team Newcastle runners take on the iconic route from Newcastle to South Shields to raise vital funds for the Newcastle University Student Fund, helping students access opportunities, overcome financial hardship and make the most of university life. Donations support everything from scholarships and hardship funding to course materials, equipment and affordable meals on campus.
As they prepare to cross the same city where their story began, we sat down with Rob and Emma to reflect on the memories, friendships and life-changing experiences they gained during their time at Newcastle.
An alumni love story begins
Rob and Emma arrived at Newcastle University in the mid-1990s, at a time when both the University and city were buzzing with energy. They recalled:
"In the late 90s it felt like the city was on the cusp of major transformation. We were in the peak of the Britpop era with Oasis, Blur and Pulp blaring out from every party, and there was a real buzz down on the Quayside, the Bigg Market and across the campus."
Alongside the excitement of Freshers' Week and days spent at nearby Whitley Bay, one memory stands above all others: meeting each other.
The pair first crossed paths during a laboratory practical in their second year.
"We were paired up in the lab for a practical in our second year. Being surrounded by Bunsen burners and agar plates while both sporting hangovers wasn't particularly conducive to conducting scientific experiments, so we may well have found ourselves slipping out early for a vodka and orange at the Student Union!"
Their relationship soon blossomed, with a first date at the much-loved Francesca's restaurant in Jesmond and plenty of unforgettable nights spent enjoying student life in Newcastle.
Memories that last a lifetime
Like many Newcastle graduates, Rob and Emma packed their student years with activities beyond their studies. Emma threw herself into university life through Ju-jitsu, the skydiving club and by co-organising the very first Medical Sciences Ball. Meanwhile, Rob admits his extracurricular pursuits included a healthy amount of what he jokingly calls "Bar Studies", alongside a brief attempt to continue playing rugby.
Looking back, both credit Newcastle with shaping their futures in ways they could never have imagined. Emma, who now co-leads blood cancer charity DKMS after a career spanning pharmaceutical research and NHS genomics, said:
"The degree provided me with the scientific foundations, but my time at Newcastle gave me much more than that. I was the first person in my family to get a degree, so going to university opened up a whole world that I hadn't really known was there."
Rob, whose career has spanned recruitment, HR, humanitarian aid and AI, echoed the sentiment.
"My studies in Newcastle provided me with a phenomenal network that I still rely upon all these years later. I was also the first member of my family to go to university, so the confidence I gained from my time at Newcastle has undoubtedly helped me to adapt and thrive in the world of work."
Running for future generations
This year's Great North Run will be Rob's third as part of Team Newcastle, while Emma prepares for just her second half-marathon.
For Rob, fundraising for students is a way of giving something back to a university community that helped shape his life. He said:
"I certainly don't take my education for granted. Having had the opportunity to study at such a wonderful institution and fostering my love of learning has been instrumental in helping me create the life I wanted.
"I want to ensure that people from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to access high-quality higher education, especially in the North East where, in some neighbourhoods, only 12% of pupils progress to university."
The couple's fundraising will help Newcastle University continue its long-standing commitment to widening participation and ensuring talented students can succeed regardless of their background.
Pushing through training challenges
Training has presented its own challenges. Emma, who describes herself as far from a seasoned runner, has been steadily building her distance through Couch to 5K.
"My main aim is to get to South Shields under my own steam, enjoy the atmosphere and hopefully still be smiling at the end," she said.
Rob, meanwhile, is relying on experience after previously conquering the course.
"I'm currently fighting a nasty bout of sciatica which has slightly impeded my training," he admitted. "But I've got the muscle-memory of getting around the course, so I'm confident that I'll get across that finishing line."
When they line up on the start line this September, Rob and Emma won't just be celebrating a running milestone. They will be celebrating a Newcastle love story that began 30 years ago and helping today's students create life-changing memories and opportunities of their own.
Support Team Newcastle
Every donation to Team Newcastle helps provide vital support for students, including scholarships, hardship funding, equipment, course materials and opportunities to participate fully in university life. By sponsoring runners like Rob and Emma, you can help ensure that future generations of Newcastle students have the chance to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.
