Runners taking part in this weekend’s BTR Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon are being encouraged to support local food banks.
Over 3,000 people will lace up their trainers this Sunday (15 March) to take part in the race, which is being staged for the 27th consecutive year.
The 13.1-mile half marathon event also includes the fifth annual 10 Mile Road Race. Both races start at 9am from the Pier Head.
Runners and spectators will gather under the gaze of the Liver Birds for the annual race set against a backdrop of Liverpool’s famous Three Graces.
As part of its commitment to support community projects, independent race organiser BTR Liverpool is encouraging participants to donate a food item.
A regular on match days at Anfield and Goodison, Fans Supporting Foodbanks will have a collection point at the Pier Head on race day where runners and spectators can donate non-perishable food items.
Items desperately needed include tinned or long-life packet food including tinned fruit, tinned vegetables, tinned cold meats, rice pudding, packet noodles, packet savoury rice, packet mashed potato, long-life fruit juice, UHT milk, and teabags.
Dave Kelly from Fans Supporting Food Banks says: “We’re delighted to once again be working with BTR Liverpool. When we last collected at a BTR race we went away with a full van thanks to the incredible support and huge generosity of the runners. If everyone brings along just one item it will make a massive difference to help families in real need.”
Runners are also being encouraged to go green and reduce their carbon footprint by taking advantage of free bus travel throughout the day from Arriva North West.
This is the latest move from race organiser BTR Liverpool in a bid to make its portfolio of races more green and environmentally friendly. Arriva North West has also supported the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash for the past three years with complimentary travel for Santas.
Race participants can travel on the Arriva bus network across Merseyside throughout the day free of charge. To claim complimentary bus travel into the city centre on the morning of the race, runners must be wearing their race number. Returning home, runners must show their finishers’ race medal. There is no cut off travel time post-race.
The Liverpool Half Marathon was first staged in 1994 and has firmly established itself as one of the North West’s premier road races.
This year’s event has been rebranded to the BTR Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon to celebrate the host destination’s strong tourism offer. Runners can see the city on foot as the course features iconic sights such as Liverpool Cathedral, Royal Albert Dock, and the Museum of Liverpool.
Fifty-four-year-old Stephen Symons will continue his unbroken run of having taken part every year – making this his 27th consecutive race start. Despite suffering from a brain haemorrhage in November 2012, Stephen still managed his continuous race run in March 2013 and took part accompanied by family.
Online race registration will close at 12pm on Thursday (12 March), visit www.btrliverpool.com for full details.
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