Our Great Manchester Run VIP Experience 2025!

The streets of Manchester were alive with energy and excitement as the Great Manchester Run 2025 took place on Sunday, May 18th. Among the thousands of participants were 60 dedicated runners representing We Love MCR Charity!

This year we had our friends at WithLove join us to create an event video that has blown our running socks off - take a watch below!

For the fourth year in a row, we hosted our highly anticipated VIP Experience, where we make the event as convenient and stress-free as possible for our fundraisers on the day – offering free run places, facilities so they can avoid long portaloo queues, secure storage and plenty of much needed refreshments!

Helen, Tyler, Kerry and Meg from our friends at Space & Time!

in 2025 our VIP Experience returned to its new home - the Generator in St. Peter's Square, a brilliant business startup and workspace hub ran by Manchester City Council's Libraries Team. The location was again a success, seeing some returning participants from 2024's event, with our fundraisers staying long after they returned from their runs to soak in the atmosphere, music, and refreshments with fellow fundraisers.

Participants enjoying our exclusive VIP space!

This year's event was again held in collaboration with our partners at Manchester Active, further showing their commitment to encourage and inspire Mancunians to move more each day. We look forward to continuing to work with Manchester Active throughout the year.

The VIP Experience kicked off bright and early at 07:30 with a pre-race gathering at the Generator, which buzzed with excitement as participants prepared to take on their 10K and half-marathon challenges. On registration, we also gave out quality branded running shirts so our runners could show their support and identify each other in #TeamWeLoveMCR!

John and Ka Po from MCC's Elections Team!

Among the sea of runners were representatives from many of our corporate partners and friends, including Far East Consortium UK who put in the biggest team of 11, Manchester City Council, JMW, OBI, Space & Time, Studio Up North, Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group, Softcat and Manchester Publicity Association's Next Gen community. Incredible support on display from Manchester’s diverse business community for We Love MCR Charity’s work!

Participants said:

The VIP experience as a whole worked really well, in particular to have a good space to chill and prepare before the run. It was also a bonus and boost to be able to see familiar faces with supportive words ahead of the run.

There was a friendly greeting, lots of space to get ready, the toilet facilities were really useful as was access to snacks and drinks!

Leah and Sophie from our partners in Team Softcat!

We can announce that the total funds raised came £10,800+ and counting! Thank you so much to every single one of our fundraising participants!

Every runner's effort was commendable and worthwhile, with everyone who hit their target raising a minimum of £150 – an amount that can be (and has been many times) equivalent to one of the awards granted through our Rising Stars Fund to ambitious young Mancunians experiencing disadvantage. These sums, despite seeming small, can quite literally change lives, so every bit truly counts when it comes to our amazing fundraisers efforts.

Jamie Kelly from Studio Up North with his winners medal!

Well done in particular to Manchester City Council City Treasurer, Tom Wilkinson, who was our highest individual fundraiser at £750+ with Gift Aid, and to the fantastic FECUK Team who raised over £2,000 with their running team! Thank you to everyone who made the effort to fundraise in what is a difficult time for charities across the country, our supporters did us incredibly proud.

The amazing We Love MCR volunteer team on the day!

Simon Wright, Head of We Love MCR Charity, said:

"We are overwhelmed by the support and generosity of all our runners and their sponsors, the £10,800 raised will go directly to our work empowering positive change in Manchester's communities and young people."

Our efforts, in collaboration with Manchester Active, have once again brought together individuals from all walks of life, united in their commitment to making a positive difference in the city that means so much to us all. We hope to have even more of you joining us next year!

For advance notice of all We Love MCR events and news, subscribe to our monthly newsletter at www.welovemcrcharity.org

Picture Gallery from Videographers: