Mersey Reporter - Merseybites News

THE milestone 10th staging of the community legacy event Run For The 97 takes place this Saturday (18 May 2024) in Liverpool's Stanley Park; final entries are now being taken.

Almost 1,500 participants have already registered for the event, which includes 200 virtual runners across the UK and the world.

Online entries will close at 6pm on Thursday (16 May). Participants can walk, jog, or run to remember The 97 with a choice of 5K or 1 Mile distances.

The 5K participants collect their commemorative T-shirt on the event morning to wear for the fun run. That way everyone takes part in wearing the same top.

On the day, the event will include runners from:- Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Qatar, Thailand, and across the United States of America.

Virtual runners are sent their run number, T-shirt, and medal prior to the event so they can complete their 5K on the same day wherever they are in the world. They are invited to submit a picture for a special gallery on the BTR Liverpool website who organise the event.

Run For The 97 was 1st staged in 2015 as a positive inclusive event to celebrate and honour the lives of the 97 Liverpool Football Club fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough, on:- 15 April 1989. This year's Anniversary marked the 35th Anniversary of the disaster.

The event also remembers the families of The 97 and the survivors, who have since tirelessly fought for justice with the utmost dignity. They continue to campaign for a Hillsborough Law.

The fun run has continued every year since 2015. During the pandemic it went ahead as a virtual run in:- 2020 and 2021, ensuring people could still support the cause and fundraise.

Run For The 97 takes place the day before the last day of the Premier League football season. The backdrop is Stanley Park; located between the home football stadiums of the City's 2 Premier League clubs:- Liverpool Football Club, at Anfield Stadium, and Everton Football Club, at Goodison Park.

Hillsborough family members and justice campaigners:- Margaret Aspinall, Steve Kelly, and Sue Roberts will all attend.

They have all been involved since the event was created. Margaret, Steve, and Sue continue the campaign for Hillsborough Law Now.

Margaret Aspinall, is the former Chair of the now disbanded:- Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG), she lost her 18 year old son, James, at Hillsborough.

Steve Kelly lost his brother Michael, aged 38. Steve helped to create and shape the event. Sue Roberts, former HFSG Secretary, lost her 24 year old brother Graham in the disaster.

The original idea for Run For The 97 came from:- Liverpool FC fan Dom Williams, who had organised a number of team charity walks between Liverpool and Sheffield.

Dom was approached by people who wanted to support the team's efforts but were unable to commit the time to the challenge; which prompted his idea to create an inclusive event. He approached independent run event organisers BTR Liverpool, in 2014 and within 12 months the 1st event took place. Dom will be taking part in this year's event.

The entry fee pays to stage and deliver all aspects of the event including:- run numbers, T-shirts, medals, virtual entries, event day staging, safety, and facilities.

Run For The 97 provides a platform for participants to fundraise or to make a one-off charity donation. Since it was 1st staged, Run For The 97 has helped to raise almost £45,000 for good causes in the City.

The official charity partners of:- Run For The 97 2024, are Jamie Carragher's 23 Foundation, Liverpool Football Club's official club charity the LFC Foundation, and Stanley Park junior parkrun and its 2 sister parkruns, at:- The Mystery Park in Wavertree and Derby Park in Bootle.

This year's Run For The 97 also forms part of the 23 Foundation's celebrations for its 15th anniversary during 2024.

Participants are invited to fundraise for the three beneficiary charities that support the vision of creating a legacy to honour The 97 while ensuring local communities benefit through their work.

Monies raised will be split equally between the charities to fund vital community outreach programmes. The official Run For The 97 2024 Just Giving online donation page can be found at:- JustGiving.Com.

Special guests on the day will include a number of former Liverpool Football Club players:- Jamie Carragher, LFC Foundation Ambassador Chris Kirkland, and legends Alan Kennedy and Sammy Lee.

'Voice Of Anfield' George Sephton has been the match-day stadium announcer at the home ground of The Reds for more than 50 years. He will be joined by:- Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram. The have both supported the event for the past decade.

Stage activity will be hosted by Graeme White, who is also the match-day stadium announcer at Everton Football Club's home ground Goodison Park. He will co-host with In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo.

Fresh from being presented with his Liverpool Citizen Of Liverpool accolade:- Michael Cullen; known more fondly as fundraiser Speedo Mick; will pull on his trainers to take part.

Speedo Mick will join his friend and most senior runner on the day; 94 year old Dennis Adelsberg, from:- Lathom, near Ormskirk. Dennis will be joined by 3 generations of his family and friends, from Skelmersdale Boundary Harriers running club.

A team of 23, from:- Carpenters Group insurance and legal services, located in:- Liverpool and Birkenhead will take part in the 5K. Carpenters Group is a long term supporter of the 23 Foundation, it has covered the entry fee for staff and is encouraging them to fundraise for the RFT97 charity fund.

The 5K starts at:- 9.30am, followed by a 1 Mile fun run from:- 10.30am, once all the 5K has finished. The route is accessible, and the event is open to everyone; as people are invited to walk, jog, or run to remember The 97.

The 5K route takes runners through:- Stanley Park, along Walton Lane, Priory Road, Arkles Lane, back into the park before passing the Eternal Flame, on:- 97 Avenue, at Anfield Stadium, where many runners pause to take a moment to pay their respects at the Hillsborough Memorial. The route continues back into Stanley Park, through to the finish line.

Alongside the 2 fun run events, there will be family attractions and activities.

The LFC Foundation's Go Play team will be hosting taster sessions. The free and fully inclusive family friendly programme takes place in local parks throughout the year. Fun and interactive games encourage families to use local green spaces.

A regular on match days at:- Anfield and Goodison, Fans Supporting Foodbanks will attend to collect food donations. Participants and spectators are encouraged to bring along 2 items each if possible. The donation point will be located near the start and finish line area.

Items urgently needed are:- UHT milk, custard, chocolate/sweet snacks, washing up liquid / powder, toilet rolls, and men's toiletries, especially shaving gel / foam. Other items welcomed include:- teabags, sponge puddings, sugar, jam, instant coffee, long life fruit juice, and biscuits.

Fans of Jurgen Klopp may not get chance to see the LFC manager in person one last time before he departs Anfield Stadium; but participants and spectators at:- Run For The 97, can enjoy the next best thing:- Liverpool FC fan Anita Harwood, from:- South Liverpool, has created Superkloppbanana which will tour the City this weekend; 1st stop Stanley Park.

The sculpture stands 2 metres tall, and is 1 of the original Superlambananas created for a City wide trail as part of Liverpool's European Capital Of Culture celebrations in 2008. Anita's partner bought it in a charity auction; and now it's had a make over complete with Jurgen's trademark baseball cap, glasses, beard, and beaming smile to say thank you to Klopp for his time at Liverpool Football Club.

Those attending Stanley Park are invited to have their photograph taken with Superkloppbanana or take a selfie in return for a cash charity donation. The funds will be donated to the official RFT97 Just Giving page and split between the 3 charities. Superkloppbanana will then go on a tour of the City to mark Klopp's final weekend in charge.

Creative Spaces Co who focus on:- taking arts, culture, and creative activities into the community will be offering kids yoga sessions. Donations welcome.

The team from Stanley Park junior parkrun will also be on hand to chat to familied about their weekly sessions and encourage youngsters to be active.

Rock Choir Liverpool will be singing live on the route, close to Anfield Stadium as participants head back into Stanley Park to complete the course and collect their keepsake medals. The choir proved very popular recently when they performed at BTR event, the Liverpool Santa Dash.

There will also be children's fun attractions and food concessions from:- Neil Pont's Fun Fairs, including:- toy rides, inflatable, hot food, candy floss, and donuts. As in previous years, concessions will donate a percentage of their takings from the day to the event charity fund.

Following the Pandemic, virtual registration continued and now national and overseas football fans support the event.

Virtual runners will take part in:- Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Isle of Man, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, various areas of the United States of America, and Wales. This includes a large group from:- Palm Beach's Official Liverpool Supporters' Club, in the States, who have taken part for a number of years.

BTR Liverpool organise and deliver Run For The 97. BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across the Liverpool City Region including:- the BTR Liverpool HalfMarathon, BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K, BTR Liverpool Santa Dash, and BTR Tour Of Merseyside.

BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell commented:- "Since the very 1st Run For The 97 back in 2015, the event has continued to be uplifting, poignant, and means so much to people. It really has become a strong community legacy. It's a very special date in the BTR calendar as we come together and run to remember The 97. We celebrate the lives of the 97 Liverpool fans in a respectful way, but we also take time to remember the families left behind and the survivors. They all remain in our hearts and minds. The day provides a platform to fundraise for three incredible charities. The 23 Foundation, LFC Foundation, and Stanley Park junior parkrun provide vital programmes and activities in the community, and their work continues to make a huge difference to so many lives."

To find out more or register please visit:- BTRLiverpool.Com/97-5k-Event

Events in the Liverpool City Region:-