Free places on offer for Great Manchester Run to encourage fundraising to support NHS in Rochdale

NorthCare Charity is offering free places for the Great Manchester Run to encourage people to fundraise to support the NHS in Rochdale, Bury, Oldham and Salford

NorthCare Charity - the NHS charity that supports the four main hospitals and community services in Rochdale, Bury, Oldham and Salford - is giving away free places for this year’s Great Manchester Run.

The charity has decided to waive any entry fees to this year’s event to thank residents who have supported the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the charity is still asking runners to fundraise, encouraging them to raise a minimum of £150 in sponsorship per place - but this is half the amount some other charities are recommending as part of entry for the annual run.

Famous for its ‘city centre route, buzzing atmosphere from start to finish, iconic music’, and ‘Mancunian spirit’, the Manchester event returns on Sunday 26 September this year and standalone entry is currently £42 for the 10K and £49 for the half marathon.

NorthCare Charity supports the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA), which runs Salford Royal, The Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital in Bury and Rochdale Infirmary, as well as community services across the four Greater Manchester areas.

Money raised from sponsorship will go towards those services most in need as the charity funds innovative equipment, education, research, and wellbeing activities across the NCA, which employs 20,000 NHS staff and cares for around one million patients every year.

However, runners can choose to fundraise for a particular hospital or service if they have a cause close to their heart. Each runner will also receive a free NorthCare Charity t-shirt or can get a running vest for a suggested donation of £10.

Anyone signing up through the NorthCare Charity website won’t be charged for entry into either race, as long as they agree to try and raise £150.

For more information and to join #TeamNorthcare visit: www.northcarecharity.org/GMR

NorthCare Charity fundraising officer Becky Swithenbank said: “After a year like no other, Great Manchester Run is a fantastic event for people to get back into running and give back to those who have cared for us so much over the past 18 months.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support and love for our NHS staff from local residents during the coronavirus pandemic, which is why we wanted to make entering Great Manchester Run free for our supporters. However, our fundraising needs never stop, and we need the public’s help as much now as ever before and hope friends, family and colleagues will get behind those who enter and sponsor what they can.

“Join Team NorthCare today and help us continue making a difference across our hospitals and community services in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Salford.”