RunThrough, the UK’s largest and Europe’s fastest-growing running events company, has announced that local running hero and long-standing charity fundraiser Barbara Thackray will join Connor Rand MP as an honorary race starter for the Altrincham 10K on Sunday 6th September 2026.
The 88-year-old Altrincham resident has completed each of the five Altrincham 10Ks held to date and has become a much-loved figure within the local running community. After completing her final competitive race at the 2025 event aged 87, Barbara will return to the start line this September to help send off an expected 4,500 runners at the biggest edition of the event so far.
Barbara began running at the age of 77 in 2015, taking up the sport to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice, which cared for her sister, Audrey Humphreys, before she died aged 56. Her support for the hospice stretches back 27 years, while her decade of running and fundraising has helped raise more than £50,000 in recognition of the care her sister received.
Her story has earned widespread recognition across Greater Manchester and beyond, with Barbara continuing to compete in 10K races well into her late 80s. In September 2025, she brought her competitive racing career to a close at the Altrincham 10K, while making clear that she intended to continue running and staying active.
This year, Barbara will share starting duties with Connor Rand, MP for Altrincham and Sale West, with the pair setting runners off from the heart of Altrincham town centre at 9:30am.
Connor Rand, Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale West said “After meeting Barbara following her final Altrincham 10k last year, I’m delighted to be joining her as an honorary race starter this year. The Altrincham 10k shows our town at its very best and I’m proud that I am able to be a part of the biggest ever race this year as we come together to support The Christie Charity.”
The 2026 race is expected to welcome approximately 4,500 entrants, making it the largest Altrincham 10K since the event began. Runners will take on the fully road-closed 10K route, starting and finishing in Altrincham town centre before heading along Hale Road towards Hale Barns, looping around Davenport Green and returning via Grove Lane and Moss Lane.
The race will also feature a high-quality Top Flight field as part of RunThrough’s national elite racing series. Top Flight brings together elite and sub-elite athletes across a 12-race programme, offering series points, race prizes and performance bonuses while creating further high-level competitive racing opportunities across the UK.
Kadar Omar of Birchfield Harriers leads the men’s Top Flight standings, while Megan Stenhouse of Rugby & Northampton AC leads the women’s standings. The Altrincham 10K will provide another important opportunity for athletes to earn valuable series points as the 2026 competition continues.
Jack Williams, CEO of RunThrough, said: “Barbara represents so much of what makes the Altrincham 10K special. Her commitment to running, her incredible fundraising for St Ann’s Hospice and the way she has inspired people across the local community have made her part of the story of this event from the very beginning.”
“After watching Barbara cross the finish line at every Altrincham 10K so far, it feels incredibly fitting to welcome her back this year to start the race alongside Connor. With around 4,500 runners expected and another exciting Top Flight field taking to the streets, this is set to be our biggest Altrincham 10K yet, and we’re looking forward to seeing the whole town come together for a brilliant morning of running.”
The Christie Charity is the Official Charity of the Year for the 2026 Altrincham 10K. The charity supports the work of The Christie, one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, helping fund cancer research, treatment, care and education.
The Altrincham 10K takes place on Sunday 6th September 2026, with the race beginning at 9:30am in Altrincham town centre.
