OVER 200 RUNNERS AND GARY LINEKER RAISE IN EXCESS OF £7,000 AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT & BRITISH AIRWAYS FIRST RUNWAY RUN
Over 200 runners raced over four kilometres around the UK s third biggest airport yesterday, raising over £7,000 as part of Manchester Airport and British Airways Runway Run.
Joined by a stellar line up including Gary Lineker, the mix of elite and fun runners dashed around Runway Two s nature trail coming up close and personal to a range of aircraft including the double decker A380 and Dreamliner.
Raising money for Flying Start, British Airways global charity partnership with Comic Relief UK, and Medcare, Manchester Airport s supported charity at the Wellspring Children s Medical Centre in Kamutuuza, Uganda, the runners also got to enjoy a family fun day at the airport s Runway Visitor Park, with a warm up under the wings of the famous Concorde and action-packed kids sports day.
Gary Lineker was also joined by seventies disco DJ Lionel Vinyl and Brazilian youth band Global Groves of Oldham, who provided entertainment throughout the day. On the day, Gary Lineker commented:
It is an absolute pleasure to be down here today supporting two such worthwhile causes.
It s even more pleasing to see so many people come down to give up their time and run.
The winner of the run, who claimed a pair of British Airways flights to Paris or Barcelona was Carl Hardman from Dukinfield, who completed the course in just 20 minutes. On the win he said:
I am delighted to have come first in the Manchester Airport and British Airways Runway Run. When I found out about the event I knew I wanted to take part, as it is such a unique opportunity. Nowhere else could you get up close to a host of planes, get some exercise and raise money for worthwhile charities.
I am looking forward to my trip with British Airways.
Others prizes on the day were awarded to second and third, most money raised and first child to finish.
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For more information contact the Manchester Airport Press Office on 0161 489 2700 / press.office@manairport.co.uk or Sue Redmond, British Airways Press Office 0161 489 2631 / susan.redmond@ba.com
Notes to editors:
Flying Start is the global charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief UK whose aim is to raise money to help children living incredibly tough lives in the UK and around the world. In just over three years British Airways has raised over £7.4million to create lasting change by giving children and their families the chance to start supporting themselves. It gives them a chance to enjoy their childhood, whether that’s by giving them a break from caring for sick family members, supporting their education or helping children living on city streets to break free from poverty. Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).
Charity fundraising by Manchester Airport has supported the expansion to Medcare s Wellspring Children s Medical Centre in Uganda for the last three years. Manchester Airport announced it would be partnering with Cheshire-based Medcare in October 2011 and has to date raised over £200,000 for the charity.
Manchester Airport is the global gateway for the North of the UK and the largest airport outside London with over 200 destinations served by 65 airlines.
Manchester s long-haul catchment area places around 24 million people and 60% of all UK businesses within a two-hour drive time it extends north through the Lake District into Scotland; east across Yorkshire and the North East; south to Birmingham and the Midlands; and west into Merseyside and Wales.
British Airways is one of the largest airlines at Manchester Airport in terms of passenger numbers and operates up to 11 return flights a day to London Heathrow