The 2023 Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness was a landmark year for the heartwarming charity run as this year local runners raised more than £25,000 for Greater Manchester’s homeless community. Simply incredible stuff.
In what was just the fifth edition of the fundraising event, runners from all over the region and many others travelling into the city centre from across the UK once again put the hard yards in to raise money for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity (GMMC) and the ‘A Bed Every Night‘ scheme.
Having comfortably smashed their biggest year to date, when taking into account fundraising matches, Gift Aid contributions and event t-shirt sales, The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness has now cruised past £24k to raise a whopping total of £25,265 with their most recent relay race last week.
In case you need any more context for this truly staggering total, that means they raised upwards of £1k for every single hour they ran around Manchester city centre and funded the equivalent of approximately 842 crucial beds including food and support for rough sleepers — and they’re still counting.
Recording 40 main relay laps, 1602 cumulative laps by runners and nearly 9,302 kilometres covered in total with virtual laps included, this year’s charity run broke all manner of records.
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With the largest wave which took place at 7pm on Wednesday, 15 November consisting of 230 runners, not to mention the returning runners on the previous lap, at one point there were roughly 400 runners out on the course all raising money for Manchester’s homeless community.
As if 2023’s tally wasn’t already impressive enough, this takes the grand total raised for the GMMC and A Bed Every Night to over £51,000 since 2018, all through simply running their socks off. Unbelievable.
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For instance, one local runner, Martin ‘Marv’ Lucass, ran a mindblowing 160km (100 miles) at the event without a single wink of sleep, stating: “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted but still nothing compared with the thought of being homeless for even 1 night.”
More than 55 running clubs, local businesses and organisations took part, with the likes of 54-year-old Ian Sharpe running a ridiculous 150km on behalf of Chorlton Runners and Andra Risca setting a new female record for the event with 100km to her name. Even The Manc got involved.
Co-founder and Lead Organiser, Thomas Lewis, said: “It has been amazing to see so many clubs and local organisations in Greater Manchester come together and raise such an incredible amount of money for the charities scheme. The money’s going to help make a real difference in the local community.”
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True to their word, the event’s incredible organisers and volunteers for the University of Manchester’s Run Wild MCR club didn’t stop going until noon on Thursday, 16 November, taking turns to lead and tail laps on very little sleep — if any at all.
Every single person who took part should be immensely proud of their achievements and having done their bit for a deeply important cause and, thankfully, the donation page is still live HERE so you can still help make a real difference in a person’s life. Aren’t us Mancs wonderful?
Featured Image — The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness
Sport
Tributes pour in as former Rochdale and Bury midfielder Joe Thompson dies at just 36
Danny Jones
Awful news to share with you this bank holiday, as former Rochdale and Bury FC midfielderJoe Thompson has sadly passed away. He was just 36 years old.
Born in Bath, he spent time at both Man United and Rochdale’s academies before representing the first team, as well as representing fellow Greater Manchester club Bury and other teams in the North West – a region where he built a life with his partner and his two kids.
The ex-pro ultimately had to retire from football following a long battle with cancer, having been given the all clear from stage four lymphoma (a type of blood cancer) twice before during his playing days, before tragically receiving a heartbreaking third diagnosis last April.
News of his death broke on Good Friday, 18 April, having “passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning”. His wife Chantelle and eldest daughter Thailula shared a lengthy and heartbreaking statement on social media.
Confirming that he passed surrounded by his family, they wrote: “Joe has made such an impact on so many people and we are all forever grateful for him blessing us with his presence and for being so strong and staying with us as long as he did against all the odds.
“He was the most Incredible husband, son, brother, friend and father to our beautiful daughters, who will now carry his light and legacy on, and I will continue to keep filling them up with Joe’s love every single day […] I know he will be deeply missed by everyone and the world will not be the same without his contagious energy.”
Addressing their followers directly, who have been unwavering in their support for Joe and his family over recent years, The Thompsons went on to add: “Long may his legacy and impact live on! Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey with us… We are all forever grateful.”
They also announced that his funeral will be an open service to allow others inspired by his story, charity work, from his Dale days saving the club from relegation and more to pay their respects, with more details to follow soon.
Countless figures from around the footballing world have joined the likes of the Red Devils and his other former clubs in paying touching tributes to the inspiring individual.
A man who epitomised our club's values ❤️
We are saddened to share that Joe Thompson has passed away.
A warm personality who had a deep connection with our club from a young age, our thoughts are with Joe's family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/40ddQpyRTi
Very sad news, to battle cancer once is extremely brave but to battle it three times is not just brave but you need a strong mindset and obviously Joe had that to keep fighting. Thoughts with Joe’s family and friends.
Joe and his family were friends with our very own Amy here at The Manc, so it goes without saying that we offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched – our thoughts are with all of them at this difficult time.
She said: “To one of the most incredible men I have ever met – Joe it was an unbelievable honour to have known you, you were the light in any room, and I can’t believe we have to carry on in this world without you.
“To the guy with the best laugh and best waves, you will forever be missed.”
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Danny Jones -
21st November 2023 
