Television presenter Eamonn Holmes is teaming up with British Airways and Manchester Airport for the annual charity Run the Runway Race over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Eamonn will officially start the Run the Runway race on Sunday April 30, as people get the chance to get their running shoes on for a third year for the 6km run around the runways.
The event is in aid of Flying Start, British Airways’ global charity partnership with Comic Relief UK, and Manchester Airport’s supported charity, CLIC Sargent the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.
It is open to more advanced runners as well as joggers, walkers and family fun-runners, who are being encouraged to compete in Red themed fancy dress, this year. Everyone will have a unique opportunity to spot passing planes up close, as they follow the 6km route around the perimeter of the UK’s third largest airport.
Participants will be required to raise a minimum of £30 in order to take part, which is in lieu of an entry fee.
Prizes, which include British Airways flights, will be awarded for
- 1st place overall
- 2nd place overall
- 3rd place overall
- 1st place junior (Under 16)
- Best fancy dress
- Best fundraiser for money raised
The fun starts at the airport’s Runway Visitor Park, located to the west of the airport, where a family fun day will take place while the runners complete the course.
Participants will follow a specially designated route around Manchester Airport’s runways, which takes on the Runway Two Nature Trail through the Bolin Valley, as well as being within ‘spotting distance’ of inbound and outbound aircraft, landing and taking-off.
Those competing at a more leisurely pace will be able to read information boards around the trail giving information on woodlands and grasslands, ponds, the River Bollin tunnel, bats, archaeology and a sculpture of the British Airways Concorde made out of willow. There will be medals for every finisher.
There will also be activities taking place at the Runway Visitor Park for supporters to enjoy including the chance to ‘fly’ an aircraft on the British Airways’ mobile flight simulator, Concorde Tours, junior races, tombola and face painting.
Flying Start is the global charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief UK, with the aim of raising money to help children living incredibly tough lives in the UK and around the world. Since the start of the partnership in June 2010, over £12million has been raised. Every child deserves hope and the chance of a bright future and every spare bit of change raised through the programme goes directly to children’s projects in the cities where British Airways fly. The airline helps by providing street children access to education, young carers a break from looking after sick family members, and babies and children vaccinations against deadly viruses.
CLIC Sargent is the new charity partner of Manchester Airport’s parent company, airport operator, MAG, and it was selected after polling airport workers to find out who they would like to support. It provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to help young people their families cope with cancer and get the most out of life. The charity’s vision is to support children and young people with cancer from diagnosis onwards and it aims to help the whole family deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, life after treatment and, in some cases, bereavement.
To find out more information about the Run the Runway Run event or to sign up, visit: https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/promotions/ba-runway-run/