The world’s first free-to-enter, chip timed, closed road running event, The Warrington Running Festival, is part of The RunThrough Foundation’s Free Event Initiative aimed at empowering people from low-income areas across the UK to transform their lives and mental wellbeing through equal access to running events, training programmes and workshops.
Birchwood Shopping Centre, home to over 40 national and independent retailers, is supporting this years’ run and has also announced that it will be raising money for a range of worthy causes on the day through the One Great Day initiative.
One Great Day is a UK-wide annual charity fundraising day, raising money and support for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and another local children’s charity close to the heart of each community.
All funds raised by Birchwood on the day will be evenly distributed between Great Ormond Street and Warrington-based children’s charities.
John Magee, Centre Manager for Birchwood Shopping Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be named Gold partner for Warrington Running Festival 2023.
“Here at Birchwood, we understand just how important physical exercise is to our overall wellbeing and, also, how important equal opportunities are which is why we’re honoured to put our name to something that encourages participation no matter who you are, through this free-to-enter event.
“In fact, Birchwood customers can look forward to a whole host of sporting activity at the centre, in the run-up to the Running Festival.
“We’ll also be there on the day, supporting all the entrants and fundraising for numerous children’s charities which matter to our local community, so be sure to pop along and say hello.”
Ben Green, Co-Founder of RunThrough & The RunThrough Foundation, added: “It is fantastic to be bringing Birchwood Shopping Centre onboard as a Gold Partner for the groundbreaking Warrington Running Festival.
“As a Warrington native it is extremely important to me that through our work with The RunThrough Foundation we seek to partner with local businesses that share our vision and passion for transforming the physical and mental health of those living in the local area through initiative’s such as the Warrington Running Festival.” The Warrington Running Festival is set to take place on Sunday 24th September and those wishing to take part can still sign up to the fourth and final ballot wave here. The Warrington Running Festival makes up one of 215 events hosted by RunThrough across the UK, with over 200,000 runners taking part annually.
