Organisers of Liverpool’s Run For The 96 5K are already promising a “bigger and better” event in 2016, after it successfully attracted almost 2,500 participants.
Supporters walked, jogged and ran in memory of the Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough tragedy, as the inaugural community legacy fun run started and finished in Stanley Park.
Runners and well-known participants including Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm and actor Les Dennis were joined by survivors, families and campaigners for the April event, which was supported by the Hillsborough Family Support Group.
The group’s chairman, Margaret Aspinall, officially got the event underway following a minute’s applause from the crowd to remember the 96.
She also handed commemorative medals to runners as they completed the challenge, which coincided with the 26th anniversary of the tragedy, and said: “ There are lots of Everton fans with Liverpool fans to run in their memory, and funds raised are going to two good causes so it’s brilliant. It’s also a great day to show the survivors that they’ve got our support and always will have. It’s great to see this unity.”
The Run For The 96 5K is the brainchild of Liverpool fan Dom Williams, who has organised the three-day Hillsborough to Anfield 96-mile team challenge for three years.
He incorporated the 5K this year as a way of engaging the wider community and joined forces with race events organisation BTR Liverpool.
Having completed the fun run on crutches following a fall during the Sheffield to Liverpool stages, Dom says: “The first Run For The 96 5K has been an outstanding success and it will definitely be bigger and better next year.
“To see almost 2,500 people taking part was breathtaking. It was very special to have some of the families and survivors join us on the day.
“Thank you to everyone who took part and for all the special guests who made time to be there to support the event.”
Images by: Paul Francis Cooper and James Stratford Photography
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