Looking to challenge yourself in 2023? Fancy working towards a new fitness goal? Reckon you’re up for a 10K, or even a half marathon?
While a lot of people will have already made a start at tackling their New Year’s resolutions, if you’re really up for a test this year, and have been thinking that signing up for the 2023 Great Manchester Run might be a good way to go, then one of Manchester’s most iconic charities is offering an ideal incentive to get you going.
We Love MCR Charity is giving The Manc’s readers and followers an exclusive opportunity to get their entry fees for this year’s event for FREE, alongside some incredible extra perks, if they choose to commit to raising some worthy funds in its name.
The charity wants to help ambitious Mancunians achieve their goals.
If you’ve not heard of We Love MCR Charity before, it’s one of the city’s longest-standing charitable organisations and works with some of the region’s most vulnerable people and ambitious communities to help them write Manchester’s next chapter.
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You can get FREE entry fees if you do the Greater Manchester Run 2023 for this local charity / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
The charity says it knows the problems that people within our city face all too well, but is keen to address them by “spreading opportunities” and “helping communities to build themselves up” through direct financial support – yet none of this would be possible without committed individuals taking on challenges to raise money.
This is why the charity is giving places worth £44 for the 10K and £51 for the half marathon at the 2023 Great Manchester Run to The Manc’s readers and followers free of charge.
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On top of that, as anyone who’s ever taken part in or been to the Great Manchester Run before will know, access to toilets, secure bag storage, and refreshments for runners can involve some pretty lengthy queues, which is why those who sign up to run for We Love MCR Charity will get an exclusive VIP package for free too.
We Love MCR Charity is also offering VIP perks to runners / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
The VIP package includes pre-race and post-race access to the Town Hall Extension on St Peter’s Square, where the charity’s volunteers will provide a secure bag and coat drop-off point and give you access to toilets, as well as a free celebratory glass of fizz or hot drink.
Runners will also get a letter from the Lord Mayor of Manchester congratulating them on their efforts and thanking them for their fundraising.
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We Love MCR Charity piloted this VIP offer back 2022, and Joshua Chang, who was part of the ‘Vimto Runners Team’ has been singing its praises – “It was well organised and there was a nice, warm welcome from all the We Love MCR Charity volunteers, which really added to the experience.”
The Manc’s readers and followers just need to commit to raising at least £125 / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
Up for it then?
To sign up, you’ll just need to commit to raising at least £125 for We Love MCR Charity through a JustGiving sponsorship page.
To join ‘The Manc x We Love MCR’ team in the biggest race of the year, then all you need to do is email Ged at the We Love MCR Charity now to request your FREE VIP place – [email protected]
Featured Image – We Love MCR Charity
What's On
Manchester Museum’s iconic T-Rex Stan is moving for the first time over 20 years
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum’s iconic T-Rex Stan is moving locations for the first time over 20 years.
Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex at the heart of Manchester Museum’s Fossils Gallery, is on the move from one historic building to another, as he leaves his home in the Museum next spring for a spectacular residency in a Grade II-listed Edwardian swimming pool.
That’s right – the famous dinosaur is heading on holiday to Victoria Baths, where he’ll be on display in the Gala Pool, marking the first time he has left Manchester Museum since arriving there in 2004.
The process of moving Stan to Victoria Baths is already being tipped as a ‘gargantuan task’.
Manchester Museum’s iconic T-Rex Stan is moving for the first time over 20 years / Credit: The Manc Group
It’s expected that the move will take a team of specialists a full week, as at 12-metres long and 3.7-metres tall, big boy Stan is roughly the size of a double decker bus and his bones must be dismantled and reassembled in a strict order to ensure counterbalance and stop him from toppling over.
During the residency at Victoria Baths, Stan will be on display to the public but will also act as the centrepiece for a full programme of events – with more details set to be announced soon.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people to experience this incredible Tyrannosaurus rex in an entirely different context,” explained Georgina Young, who is the Acting Director at Manchester Museum.
“Not only is Victoria Baths breathtakingly beautiful, but their team will bring renewed creativity to encounters with Stan.”
Anthony Baker, CEO of the Victoria Baths Trust, added: “Victoria Baths would like to state for the record that we did not invite a T-Rex skeleton into our Grade II-listed swimming pool. Stan has made his own arrangements and we are simply going along with it.
“He is insisting that we open our doors for free so that as many people can visit him as possible and it is very difficult to say no to a giant dinosaur, especially when he asked so nicely.”
Stan the T-Rex will be at Victoria Baths from 22 March to 19 April 2027, and he’ll be free to pop in and say hello to.
Featured Image – Stephen Gidley (via Flickr)
What's On
Full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026
Emily Sergeant
The full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Village Pride this weekend have been released.
Manchester Village Pride is a beloved celebration of LGBTQ+ life in Manchester, known for bringing thousands of people into city centre every August bank holiday weekend for four fun-filled, glitter-covered, disco-driven days… and although 2026 may look a little different to usual, you can always count on the city to welcome everyone in.
Every year, the lineup offers a wide range of activities for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join together and celebrate, as well as provide opportunities to advocate for equality, engage families and young people, and celebrate queer arts and culture.
This year’s event is set to kick off this Friday 28 August and round out on bank holiday Monday (31 August).
🏳️🌈 On Saturday [29 August], it's the #PrideParade so you'll see plenty of rainbows in the city centre.
To allow the parade to take place: – There will be road closures in place – Some buses may operate on diversion – Trams in the city centre may experience minor delays
And of course, for the celebrations to all take place as safely and seamlessly as possible, a number of road closures and restrictions will need to be put in place, and Manchester City Council has now published a list of everything you need to know.
It’s advised that anyone making their way into and around the city centre this weekend use other modes of transport – such as buses, trams, and trains.
But for those who need to drive, you’ll want to pay attention to this list before setting out on any journeys.
The full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026 has been released / Credit: The Manc Group | Supplied
Saturday 29 August
All roads in this list will be closed from 6am to 7pm:
Liverpool Road (Water Street to Deansgate)
Wollam Place (30m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
Potato Wharf (Castlefield Hotel entrance to Liverpool Road)
Old Medlock Street
Lower Byrom Street (40m north of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
Duke Street (Rice Street to Liverpool Road)
Stone Street (Liverpool Road to Bridgewater Street)
Barton Street (Bridgewater Street to Tonman Street)
Southern Street (Bridgewater Street to Liverpool Road)
Bridgewater Street (Collier Street to Deansgate)
Tonman Street (Liverpool Road to Longworth Street)
Saturday 29 August
All roads in this list will be closed from 9am to 7pm:
Deansgate (Trafford Street to Peter Street)
Quay Street (Little Quay Street to Deansgate)
Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street)
Camp Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
St James Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
Jerusalem Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
Marron Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
Watson Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
Lower Mosley Street (Windmill Street to Oxford Street)
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street)
Chepstow Street (Great Bridgewater Street to Oxford Street)
Portland Street (Oxford Street to Abingdon Street)
Princess Street (Faulkner Street to Whitworth Street)
Whitworth Street (Beaver Street to Fairfield Street)
Samuel Ogden Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
Sackville Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
Fairfield Street (Whitworth Street to London Road)
Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Aytoun Street)
Back Acton Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)
Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)
Bus lanes will also be suspended on Bridge Street from Gartside to New Bailey Street, Whitworth Street West from Deansgate to Albion Street, and Portland Street from Princess Street to Newton Street, on the Saturday (29 August) too – running from 6am to 7pm.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd February 2023 
