Four colourful musicians from Manchester’s iconic Mr Wilson’s Second Liners will be running this year’s Great Manchester Run to raise awareness and funding for brain haemorrhage research.
The ‘street party’ band, which is named after Manchester Hacienda legend Tony Wilson, plays 90s rave, techno and club classics from the city’s Hacienda era, dressed as a technicolour New Orleans marching band.
Band leader and bass saxophonist, Will Lenton; trumpeter and vocalist, Paul Leeming; and saxophone players, Paddy Higginson and Atholl Ransone, will be dressed in their colourful Mr Wilson’s costumes for the race and will be raising as much money as they can for The Natalie Kate Moss Trust.
The charity funds pioneering research into the treatment and prevention of brain haemorrhage currently taking place at the University of Manchester. The Natalie Kate Moss Trust is an official charity partner in this year’s Great Manchester Run, which takes place on Sunday 21st May.
The Natalie Kate Moss Trust was founded ten years ago in memory of Manchester University graduate, Natalie Kate Moss, who died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage in 2011 at just 26 years old.
There is currently no successful treatment for a brain haemorrhage, making it a key focus for the Manchester Stroke Group. Manchester University’s strengths in Neuroscience research, and links with the UK’s largest clinical stroke centre, make Manchester particularly well-placed to lead the search for better treatments.
May is also Hypertension Awareness Month and Stroke Awareness Month so the Natalie Kate Moss Trust is encouraging people to get their blood pressure checked following recent research by Stroke UK that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the leading cause of lifestyle related brain haemorrhages.
Will Lenton, from Mr Wilson’s, said: “We founded Mr Wilson’s to bring music, joy and celebration to our streets and to bring communities together and we hope to bring some of this magic to the Great Manchester Run in May in aid of the Natalie Kate Moss Trust.”
Fiona Moss, Natalie’s sister and co-founder of The Natalie Kate Moss Trust, said: “Mr Wilson’s will be making a real impact at this year’s Great Manchester Run with their carnival and street party style and we’re delighted that they have chosen to race in Natalie’s memory.
“Support like this really helps us to raise awareness of brain haemorrhages and the lifestyle changes we can all make to prevent some forms of brain haemorrhage but also to help us fund the incredible and vital research taking place here in Manchester, which will have a huge impact on treatments in the future.”
Fiona added: “We have a number of places available for other 10km runs throughout the year and would love to hear from individuals or corporate teams keen to take part. Please sign up and join The Natalie Kate Moss Team.”
To support to Mr Wilson’s Second Liners and fund life-changing research in to brain haemorrhage, visit www.justgiving.com/team/
