CommunityNinth edition of Run For The 97 event to take place this weekend

The ninth annual community legacy fun run will take place in the city’s Stanley Park this Saturday (May 27), with participants welcome to walk, jog or run the 5k or one-mile distances.

Final entries are being taken here.

The event was first staged in 2015 as a positive community legacy occasion to celebrate and honour the lives of the 96 supporters who had died as a result of the tragedy at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989.

Last year it was renamed Run For The 97 to include and honour Reds fan Andrew Devine, who sadly passed away in July 2021, having sustained life-changing injuries at Hillsborough.

The event – which to date has helped to raise more than £40,000 for good causes in the city – also remembers the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster and the survivors, who have since tirelessly fought for justice with the utmost dignity.

Run For The 97 provides a platform for participants to fundraise or make a one-off charity donation, benefiting four official charity partners: LFC Foundation, Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation, Everton in the Community, and Stanley Park junior parkrun.

“Run For The 97 is a very poignant and uplifting event – a positive community legacy event to remember the 97, their families, and the survivors,” said BTR Liverpool race director Alan Rothwell.

“On Saturday we will once again come together in Stanley Park – red and blue standing side by side – as we walk, jog or run to remember the 97 in a respectful and fitting way.

“A big thank you to Liverpool FC goalkeeping legend Bruce Grobbelaar for launching this year’s event, representing Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation. And we applaud the support of everyone involved in the launch – each and every person plays a vital role in Run For The 97.

“The event provides a platform to raise money in memory of the 97. The funds are split equally between our four official charities to support vital outreach projects and programmes.”

On the day there will be family activities and soccer skills hosted by LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community, and Fans Supporting Foodbanks will collect non-perishable foodbank donations.

Matt Parish, chief executive of LFC Foundation, said: “It’s our ninth year supporting this special event, which brings the community together to remember the 97 and raise important funds for local charities.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in this year’s event – from the supporters to volunteers and runners, who will help to make it a success.”

The event’s official JustGiving online donation page can be found here.