07
November
2023
|
15:15
Europe/Amsterdam

Sunday fun on runway run

  • ~Runners at Manchester Airport runway fun run
  • ~Runners at the starting line
  • runwy run a380
  • ~Runners participating in Manchester Airport runway fun run
  • ~Runners at Manchester Airport runway fun run
  • ~Runners at the starting line
  • runwy run a380
  • ~Runners participating in Manchester Airport runway fun run

Around 100 fun runners took to Manchester Airport’s runway two on Sunday afternoon, raising more than £7,000 for three nominated charities.

Manchester Airport colleagues and staff working for airport community partners, including airlines, ground handling agents and service providers, took part. The airport’s managing director, Chris Woodroofe, also took part and gave participants a pep-talk beforehand.

Runners followed a loop of half the runway, which is usually off-limits to pedestrians, starting from the airport’s southside fire station. The 4.2km course allowed participants to enjoy views of aircraft taking off on runway one, including Emirates’ giant A380.

Members of the Manchester Airport Charity Committee and other colleagues volunteered to hand out medals, staff the start and finish lines and capture the event on camera for the airport’s social media channels, including an Instagram live stream. Water bottles and refreshments were donated by World Duty Free and WH Smith, and special assistance provider ABM made a generous donation of £1,000 to the fundraiser. 

Funds raised from the event will be split between a trio of good causes;

-            Magic Breakfast, which provides healthy school breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas of the UK;

-            Medcare, a charity which operates community health services for children in Uganda;

-            The Children’s Society, which offers specialist support to children and young people facing a wide range of social challenges or exploitation.

Race winner Bill Hetherton, who works on the team overseeing the transformation of the airport’s Terminal Two, completed the course in an impressive 15 mins 24 seconds. He said: “Participating in the runway run was a unique opportunity and it was great to contribute to raising an amazing amount of money for our charity partners. The run drove some healthy team competition and we’re now planning our next run around the Manchester Airport perimeter in December.”

Chris Woodroofe added: “We are proud to be supporting some very worthy causes this year through our Charity Committee, all of which do vital work here in Manchester or further afield supporting children and young people.

“It was terrific to see so many colleagues turn out for this event and I was glad to share the experience with them.”

Anybody who wishes to support the appeal can find out more by visiting https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/1840/manchester-airport-fundraising/.