More than 1,500 people walked, jogged, and ran in Stanley Park to complete the milestone 10th staging of community legacy event Run For The 97 earlier this month (18 May). The charity fun run saw participants complete either a 5K or 1 Mile distance.

This year’s event has raised £4,000 so far for official charity partners Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation, Liverpool Football Club’s official club charity the LFC Foundation, and Stanley Park junior parkrun and its two sister parkruns at The Mystery Park in Wavertree and Derby Park in Bootle. Donations and sponsor money can still be added to the official Just Giving page.

Special guests on the day included former Liverpool FC players Jamie Carragher, Chris Kirkland, Alan Kennedy, and Sammy Lee. They were joined by Hillsborough family members and Hillsborough Law campaigners Margaret Aspinall, Steve Kelly, and Sue Roberts.

Hillsborough family members and justice campaigners Margaret Aspinall, Steve Kelly, and Sue Roberts have all been involved since the event was created. Margaret Aspinall is the former Chair of the now disbanded Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG), she lost her 18-year-old son James at Hillsborough. Steve Kelly lost his brother Michael, aged 38. Steve helped to create and shape the event. Sue Roberts, former HFSG Secretary, lost her 24-year-old brother Graham in the disaster.
 
Reds and Blues stood side by side as football club anthems Liverpool FC’s You’ll Never Walk Alone and Everton FC’s Z Cars were played as runners gathered before the fun run, before joining in with a minute’s applause. The 5K runners crossed the start line to the sound of The Justice Collective’s cover of The Hollies’ classic He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – the song which unites Liverpool and Everton and shows the solidarity of the Red and Blue sides of the city. Youngsters running in the 1 Mile set off to the sound of The Farm’s Altogether Now.

The event provides a platform for participants to fundraise or to make a one-off charity donation. Since it was first staged, Run For The 97 has helped to raise almost £45,000 for good causes in the city. BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell commented: “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part, supported, or volunteered at the milestone 10th Run For The 97 5K community legacy fun run. This was an extra special poignant year.

“Run For The 97 was first staged in 2015 and has continued to be uplifting and thought provoking for everyone involved. We celebrate the lives of the 97 Liverpool fans in a respectful way, but we also take time to remember the families left behind and the survivors. They all remain in our hearts and minds.

“It’s wonderful and important to see more and more young people taking part each year as they learn about Hillsborough and a need for Hillsborough Law, as well as taking part in sport to promote health and wellbeing. A key part of the community legacy aspect to the event.

“Funds raised for the three official charities – 23 Foundation, LFC Foundation, and Stanley Park junior parkrun – will help to support their vital work and programmes in the local community and make a huge difference to so many lives.”
 
Run For The 97 2025 will take place on Saturday 24 May you can enter now here.

Image: BTR Liverpool