Member Article

Port Sunlight Welcomes 1,800 For Race Day

Almost 1,800 runners took to the streets of Port Sunlight yesterday (Sunday, 1 March) for its fourth annual race day.

The family event attracted runners of all ages and abilities across two races in the picturesque village – 5K and 10K – which was followed by a 1K Kids’ Fun Run.

The event was organised by BTR, in conjunction with Port Sunlight Village Trust.

The Port Sunlight races officially kick-started BTR’s growing portfolio of 10 events for 2015.

Almost 400 runners took part in the 5K race, which was a loop route taking in the sights of the village. This was followed by the 10K race, which saw 1,200 runners race for two loops of the same course. All finishers in the 5K and 10K races received a bespoke finishers’ medal, T-shirt and goody bag.

The races were followed by a 1K Kids’ Fun Run attracting 200 enthusiastic youngsters who were greeted by Claire Bear, the official mascot of Claire House Children’s Hospice. They all received a medal and a goody bag.

Deciding that one race in a day wasn’t enough, almost 40 keen runners took part in both the 5K and 10K races to be double racers on the day.

The day’s most senior runner was familiar face, 91-year-old Eddie Mountford, from Wirral, who completed the 10K.

Unilever supported the event for the second consecutive year through Project Sunlight – its movement for people everywhere who want to make the world a better place for their children and future generations.

Unilever has enjoyed a strong connection to Port Sunlight since 1888 and continues to have major manufacturing, R&D and IT facilities in the village. Unilever had 50 runners taking part across the 5K and 10K races.

The event has previously been staged in May, but due to a large number of major events taking place across Liverpool City Region in May, organisers brought the event forward two months.

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events in Liverpool City Region. Its portfolio of nine other race events includes the Liverpool Santa Dash, Liverpool and Wirral Half Marathons, and Mersey Tunnel 10K.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell said:

“Port Sunlight is a fantastic setting for race events and, once again, we have to thank Port Sunlight Village Trust for hosting the event and Unilever for their support. We had an excellent turn-out, which kick-started our calendar of 10 events for 2015.

“We’re delighted with the numbers taking into account the change of date. It’s a fantastic sight to see new runners alongside the more experienced ones, while the youngsters brought the fun element to the day. A massive well done to all the runners, and not forgetting the volunteers who play such an important role on the day.”

Katherine Lynch, Heritage Manager at Port Sunlight Village Trust, commented:

“We were thrilled to welcome the 1,800 runners, their families and supporters to Port Sunlight. The village is an ideal backdrop to host events such as this, and we always look forward to the annual race day. The event went extremely well and we are very grateful to the residents of Port Sunlight for their ongoing support of our public programmes.”

Unilever Port Sunlight Works Director, Andy Hinch, added:

“We were thrilled to support the event for the second consecutive year and it was a great sight to see the runners enjoying the village. Port Sunlight is the historic home of Unilever and we are proud to be involved. Well done to our 50 Unilever runners who took part.”

The BTR Port Sunlight 10K and 5K races were the latest events in a year-long joint fundraising partnership between BTR Liverpool and its five official charities.

The BTR Footsteps Fundraisers initiative will bring the charities together to benefit financially through BTR’s key race events over the next 12 months by encouraging participants to fundraise and support them.

The five BTR Footsteps Fundraisers official charities are Radio City’s Cash For Kids, Claire House Children’s Hospice, Everton in the Community, Jospice, and Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

The next race for BTR is the Vitality Liverpool Half Marathon on 29 March.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Erica Dillon .