Around 2,000 people from across Manchester joined together on Sunday to take part in a special fun run with a difference to raise cash for St Ann’s Hospice.
Participants in the 5km sponsored ObstaColour Run event were showered with multi-coloured powder as they walked, ran or jogged the route through Wythenshawe Park taking on a series of inflatable obstacles.
Runners were also encouraged to write the name of someone who means something to them on a special ribbon and wear it around their wrist on the day.
These were then hung on a Tree of Dedication at the end of the run, just after participants had crossed the finish line.
Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s Hospice, said: “Last year’s Colour Run was hugely popular, and we knew that our supporters would love the addition of inflatable obstacles to keep them on their toes this year.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with the number of people who have taken part this weekend, and hope they had a fun – and messy – day.
“As a charity we need to raise around £16,000 every day to keep our services running so we’re dependent on the kind generosity of local people who join us for events like the ObstaColour Run.
“We simply couldn’t carry on caring for our patients and their families without them, and we’re looking forward to collecting the sponsorship money from participants so we can see how much has been raised.”
Last year’s St Ann’s Colour Run attracted almost 1,700 people from across the city, raising £79,518 for the local charity.
St Ann’s Hospice, which operates from three sites in Salford, Stockport and the Neil Cliffe Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital looks after thousands of patients every year with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, managing their symptoms, providing support, caring for people at the hospice or at home, and providing end of life care.
