WARRINGTON Running Festival organisers, RunThrough, united with gold tier event partner Birchwood Shopping Centre for a one-off physical activation on National Fitness Day to celebrate 4 days to go until the world’s first free closed road running event.
The Warrington Running Festival, taking place this Sunday 24th September, is the world’s first free major closed road race. Part of the RunThrough Foundation’s groundbreaking initiative to inspire an active nation through running, promoting physical and mental health, through the provision of high quality free events. The event will see 6,000 participants, all of whom gained their places via a ballot (>20,000 applicants), running in the 10k and Half Marathon races alongside the Junior Race presented by Kids Planet Day Nurseries.
Birchwood Shopping Centre representatives united with RunThrough Co-Founder (and Warrington native) Ben Green alongside other event partners and sponsors at the shopping centre, which is home to over 40 national and independent retailers. The finish line gantry that runners will RunThrough on Sunday to complete their races was erected outside of Birchwood Shopping Centre, piquing the interest of shoppers and passers by as the stakeholders posed for photos.
Birchwood Shopping Centre chose to partner with the Warrington Running Festival and RunThrough because of the shared vision with the RunThrough Foundation and their aim of empowering those in local areas to transform their physical and mental health through running and the provision of high quality free events.
John Magee, Centre Manager for Birchwood Shopping Centre, said: “What better way to celebrate National Fitness Day than to come together with Ben Green and all other partners with 4 days to go until this world first event that encourages participation no matter who you are. Here at Birchwood Shopping Centre, we understand just how important physical exercise is to our overall well being and, also, how important equal opportunities are which is why it was so poignant for us to associate our name with the event and support the community. We’re excited to be there on event day and supporting and cheering on the runners, with a DJ located at our main cheer station and our event village stand.”
Ben Green, Co-Founder of RunThrough and Warrington native, commented: “It’s great to bring the event to life with all our local Warrington Running Festival partners coming together for this one off activation at Birchwood Shopping Centre, without whom this event would not have been possible. Birchwood Shopping Centre have shared our vision since the initiative’s inception and through their dedication and commitment, have played a crucial role in fostering a sense of togetherness and creating a positive impact through their involvement in the event.”
6,000 free places assigned to runners via the ballot, having worked closely with Warrington Borough Council, RunThrough were able to prioritise all applicants from low income areas of Warrington and assign places to 100% of these applicants with the remaining entries being awarded on a draw basis. This was done to ensure the RunThrough Foundation’s objective of empowering people from low-income areas to transform their physical and mental wellbeing. A measure of already delivering against this objective is that there are a large number of participants taking part for whom this will be their first time taking part in a running event.
The Warrington Running Festival will start and finish in Bank Park with races starting at 9am and anyone wishing to unite and support is encouraged to come to the event village in Bank Park or to support along the route. More information is available on the Warrington Running Festival website here. Entries for the Junior Race presented by Kids Planet day Nurseries are still available and can be obtained on the day from the event village in Bank Park.
RunThrough extends thanks to all Warrington Running Festival partners who helped to make the event possible.
- Gold Partner – Birchwood Shopping Centre
- Silver Partner – Knight Corporate Finance
- Junior Race Partner – Kids Planet Day Nurseries
- Bronze Partners – Adele Carr Recruitment, Watsons Solicitors
