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
You can ride a wizard-themed steam train through Greater Manchester countryside next week
Emily Sergeant
The hugely popular wizard-themed steam train will be travelling through Greater Manchester once again next week.
February half term is right around the corner, and that means East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is back with a whole host of immersive events that give curious Mancs the chance to step back in time by hopping on one of the historic Pullman-style steam train carriages through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
Thomas the Tank Engine, dinosaur, Peppa Pig, and seasonal themed train rides are just a few of the events that have been entertaining families in the region over the last few years.
By far one of the most popular experiences on the lineup, however, has to be the chance to go on a ‘wizarding adventure’, where little Mancs can come together for a magical day of sharing spells and getting stuck into lots of magic-themed fun.
You can ride a wizard-themed steam train through Greater Manchester next week / Credit: ELR
Aspiring witches and wizards of all ages are invited to enrol in the spellbinding school of sorcery this February half term, as they take a ‘wacky and wonderful’ whistle stop tour through the ‘Irwell Valley of wonders’.
Little Mancs will get to learn powerful incantations and perfect their wand-waving skills, all while using their imagination and learning how to soar through the skies on a broomstick.
They’ll also get to discover the proper way to greet mystical creatures, and take care of a ‘real’ dragon egg too.
The Wizarding Adventure is an “enchanting experience for all the family” / Credit: ELR
Aside from wizard-themed tasks, there’ll also be plenty of photo opportunities along the way.
Aside from wizard-themed tasks, there’ll also be plenty of photo opportunities along the way, and food and drink will be available to tuck into from the café on Platform 3/4 at Bury Bolton Street Station, and from the Rawtenstall Buffet too, making it a truly ‘enchanting’ experience for the whole family.
The Wizarding Adventure is back this half term, with several special journeys lined-up next month on Thursday 19 February, and tickets still available to get your hands on from £18 each for children and £20.50 for adults.
Swedish pop icon Robyn to play huge Manchester gig on European tour this summer
Emily Sergeant
Generational Swedish pop icon Robyn is heading out on a big European tour this summer, and she’ll be stopping off in Manchester.
This is Robyn’s first major tour since 2019, and it will feature 20 dates as well as her biggest ever headline shows – including London’s 20,000 capacity O2 Arena, and three consecutive hometown nights at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena.
And, of course, a night at Europe’s largest indoor arena – Co-op Live, here in Manchester.
Having provided some of the biggest moments in pop culture over the last three decades, Robyn is currently in the eye of one of the year’s most celebrated musical returns, as 2026 has seen her announce her ninth studio album, and her first since 2018, titled Sexistential, produced with longtime collaborator Klas Åhlund, and reuniting her with Max Martin for their first co-writes since 2010.
It’s said to be the ‘most ecstatic’ record Robyn has ever made, and is tipped to be the sound of one of contemporary music’s most influential artists ‘coming home’.
This upcoming tour will feature an exciting lineup of special guest openers across the UK and Europe dates – with 808 State and Zhala on the bill for Manchester‘s gig, bringing together a mix of boundary-pushing artists who are either friends of Robyn or among the voices that inspire her.
Robyn – The Sexistential Tour UK & EU 2026
Wednesday 24 June – 3Arena, Dublin
Friday 26 June – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Saturday 27 June – Co-op Live, Manchester
Tuesday 30 June – ING Arena, Brussels, Belgium
Wednesday 1 July – Adidas Arena, Paris, France
Friday 3 July – The O2, London
Wednesday 8 July – Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
Saturday 11 July – Unity Arena, Oslo, Norway
Tuesday 14 July – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thursday 16 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Friday 17 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday 18 July – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Following on from the UK and European tour, Robyn will then head over to the US and Australia for another run of huge dates in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, before the tour draws to a close in Melbourne in Australia on 24 November.
Robyn will bring The Sexistential Tour to Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 27 June 2026, and tickets officially go on sale this week.
There are two separate pre-sales happening this week before tickets then go on general sale this Friday 13 February – there’s the Co-op Presale, which starts tomorrow (Tuesday 10 February) at 10am, and then the Spotify Presale, which starts on Thursday 12 February at 10am.
You can get tickets when they go live on general sale this Friday at 10am here.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd February 2023 
