Former University of Manchester students are teaming up with running clubs across the city-region to tackle a 24hr run to help end homelessness.
This is the sixth 24hr Run Against Homelessness in aid of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, tasking individuals to run a 5km lap around the city centre in a group relay.
Starting out in 2019 with a target of £500, the team has enjoyed romping success raising over £52,000 to support the charity’s flagship A Bed Every Night Scheme.
The event was born out of founders Thomas Lewis and James Bannister’s desire to bring people together across the city region to support fundraising aimed at getting people off the streets and back into society.
Starting out as a social running society at the university, the pair quickly led to setting up the first event within the confines of the university’s student union.
Thomas Lewis, founder of 24 Hour Run
“We didn’t know what to expect with the first event. We were still at uni and I remember the first two laps was done by just one runner, so we were a little worried we wouldn’t meet our target, which was only £500.
“But we were quite blown away by the end, seeing over 300 runners turn up and raise an incredible £2,800.
The COVID-19 pandemic was no obstacle to the group, successfully running an entirely virtual event in 2020, nearly doubling the amount raised and a cumulative distance of 2721km.
A return to the original format in 2021, with a separate virtual run alongside it, saw nearly £6,000 raised, with GM Mayor Andy Burnham taking part in the event in 2022. Since then, the event has grown exponentially, securing a new venue in the city centre, raising nearly £53,000 in total and funding over 1,700 beds for the charity.
For 2024, the team are now pushing for their most ambitious target yet, looking to raise £50,000 across 12:00pm Wednesday 13th November – 12:00pm Thursday 14th November. The event is run in a mass participation group relay that is held over 24 hours, with participants welcome to run as many laps as they wish.
Locals, organisations and businesses alike are being encouraged to get down to Freight Island to take part, with all funds raised going directly to the A Bed Every Night Scheme. Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together, are matching every donation up to £20,000.
