Looking to challenge yourself in 2022? Fancy setting some new fitness goals? Reckon you’re up for a 10K, or even a Half Marathon?
It doesn’t have to be running – perhaps you’d prefer to tackle something else entirely?
A lot of us will already have our New Year’s resolutions picked out and lined up, but if you’re really up for a test in 2022, then one of Manchester’s most iconic charities is offering an ideal incentive to get going by giving The Manc’s readers and followers an exclusive opportunity to get £25-worth of entry fees to any sponsored event refunded if they choose to commit to raising some worthy funds in its name.
If you’ve not heard of We Love MCR before, the charity works with some of the city’s most vulnerable people and ambitious communities to help them write Manchester’s next chapter.
The charity says it knows too well the problems that the people within our city face, especially as one in three children live in poverty, one in 10 have no qualifications to their name, and alongside that, there are also those who seek to create division within our communities – but, the charity’s seeks to address these challenges.
It aims to do so by “spreading opportunities” and “helping communities to build themselves up” through direct financial support.
And taking part in a sponsored event or challenge could not be a more ideal way to help.
We Love MCR Charity wants to help ambitious Mancunians achieve their goals in 2022 / Credit: Great Manchester Run
For whatever it is you’re keen to set your mind to, there’s plenty of challenges already lined up in the Manchester events calendar for 2022.
Need some inspiration?
One of the largest events – and the highlights of the year – is the Great Manchester Run.
This year, the Great Manchester Run returns on Sunday 22 May, and with entertainment zones that celebrate local character and culture at every kilometre, some of the best – and loudest – crowd support anywhere in the world, and all the action televised live on the BBC, it’s known as an event day experience like no other.
Depending on your choice or running ability, the Great Manchester Run has both a 10K circuit and a Half Marathon that you can sign up to.
Entries are open to runners aged 15+ (10k) and 17+ (Half marathon) on the day of the event.
The WLMC Firewalk in St Peter’s Square on 13 October 2021 / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
All sponsorship money raised by those undertaking the 2022 Great Manchester Run, or indeed any sponsored event across the city-region throughout next year, will go directly to supporting We Love MCR Charity’s two current grant programmes – the ‘Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund’, and the ‘Stronger Communities Fund’ – which both support local communities and ambitious young Mancunians to overcome the barriers in their way and recover from the problems created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ‘Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund’ awards grants to ambitious young Mancunians to remove the first hurdle that prevents them from fulfilling their ambitions – in qualifications, work and entrepreneurship.
While the ‘Stronger Communities Fund’ aims to empower local people to improve their own communities and spaces, whenever they are ready.
The Great Manchester Run returns on Sunday 22 May 2022 / Credit: Great Manchester Run
2022 is set to be another big year for the charity.
And you can be a part of that.
You can download the exclusive refund entry form on the link below, and sign up to do a sponsored event of your choice in 2022 for We Love MCR Charity.
Aspiring artists can get their work displayed on one of the biggest digital screens in Manchester
Danny Jones
Are you a budding artist looking to get your work seen or know some who is? Well, you might want to pay attention because there’s an opportunity to have your creation seen by countless passers-by and on one of the biggest displays in the entire UK over at the Printworks.
If you’ve passed through the much-loved hospitality and leisure complex over the past year or so, you’ll have noticed their roof is now no longer a roof at all, really; the striking ceiling is now a constantly moving image and the largest of its kind in all of Europe.
Meaning that anyone who got their artworks on there would effectively be securing one of the biggest displays and public installations on the continent.
As Printworks themselves put it: “This isn’t just a screen; it’s an artistic stage viewed by millions of visitors every year, with the power to turn a single artwork into a 360-degree sensory experience.”
With that in mind, they’re giving one lucky individual the chance to grab the spotlight and see their creative expression plastered on the 1,000m² wraparound LED canvas.
“Supporting emerging talent and seeing fresh, creative perspectives is always inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what these young artists bring to the table! It was so surreal seeing my artwork on the digital.”
Past installations have included the ‘Spaces Up-Above’ exhibition by world-renowned light artist, Rupert Newman, as well as an International Women’s Day showcase by Heitzman herself, as a fellow Manchester-based creative.
In case you need a better idea of the sheer scale of this screen and why this is such an exciting opportunity for up-and-coming local artists, here’s how they celebrated Oasis returning to Manchester for their Heaton Park reunion gigs this week:
Synchronised with sound and added motion effects, the competition is now open to students who are currently enrolled in college, university or art school.
Better still, you don’t even have to be from or based in the area to take part – this is a nationwide competition hoping to spotlight the best talents in the UK.
All you have to do to enter this exciting competition in Manchester is simply provide Printworks your details and upload your artwork of choice HERE by Sunday, 3 August.
Nostalgic ready-to-drink Breezer makes UK return after a decade
Daisy Jackson
An iconic ready-to-drink favourite has launched back into the UK – oh yes, Breezer is back.
First launched in the 1990s, Breezers – then pitched as an ‘alcopop’ – were a staple on dancefloors and at barbecues right across the UK.
And now Bacardi has decided to bring these delicious, fruity, easy-drinking bottles back to British shores.
There are three new flavours to try as Breezers return to your fridges – Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime, and Crisp Watermelon.
And Breezer launched back into Manchester last night with a suitably memorable party, turning a spot in the Northern Quarter into a corner shop.
The ‘local Cornerbop’ was stacked with your usual essentials, plus shelf after shelf of these colourful glass ready-to-drink bottles.
Inside the Breezer ‘Cornerbop’ corner shop in ManchesterBreezer is back, in three new flavours
The Breezer relaunch party saw Tarsza and Rennie Peters spinning nostalgic anthems with a modern twist at a pop-up party in a corner shop.
Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK & Ireland, said: “We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK, and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer.
“RTDs are booming, however, the Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages category could do with a bit more excitement. By bringing back Breezer we’re definitely putting the fruity taste into FAB.”
The iconic ready-to-drink classic is back – and better than ever.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd January 2022 
