Hundreds of people will run up and down the runway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the middle of the night in a special 5K race to raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Charity. Tony McDonough reports
Between 2am and 3.30am on Saturday, November 22, the huge lights that illuminate the runway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) will be switched on.
But no aircraft will be landing or taking off. Instead 350 runners will take part in a special early hours 5K race to raise vital funds for the airport’s charity partner Alder Hey Children’s Charity.
All year round, flights operate in and out of the airport from early in the morning until late at night. However, from 2am to 3.30am there is a gap in aircraft movements giving sufficient time to stage the event.
It is being sponsored by a number of partners including, easyJet, easyJet Holidays, aviation security company Wilson James, general and business aviation operator Ravenair and the M&S Bank Arena.
Carol Dutton, LJLA’s HR and community director said: “Opportunities like this don’t come round very often so we’re hoping that this unique event will attract significant interest from runners from across the region and help raise thousands of pounds for the charity.”
Runners, fundraisers, aviation fanatics and supporters of Alder Hey will all have the chance to participate in the night run by paying a registration fee of £35 and then raising a minimum of £100 in sponsorship.
All of the proceeds raised on the night will go towards the airport’s target to raise £86,000 for medical equipment required within the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.
Participants will also have the chance to win some fantastic prizes too, including flights/vouchers donated by the main sponsor easyJet.
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Katy Armitage, corporate partnerships fundraiser at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, added” “We are so grateful to everyone who has helped to make this exciting event possible and can’t wait to see so many runners take to the runway in aid of Alder Hey.
“All of the money raised from this event will be going towards equipment for our new surgical neonatal unit, helping us to provide vital care to some of our smallest and most vulnerable patients.”
Places for this event have now sold out.