The sun shone brightly in Stanley Park as runners turned out in force for the community legacy event Run For The 97. More than 1,650 adults and children walked, jogged, and ran to honor the 97 Liverpool Football Club fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough in 1989. This was the 12th staging of the event, supported by both the red and blue sides of the city. The event took place in Stanley Park, located between Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium and Everton FC's Goodison Park, now the home of Everton Women.
Event Highlights
Participants in the 5K run collected commemorative T-shirts on the morning of the event, symbolizing unity. A 1 Mile fun run followed. Runners traveled from Ireland, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland to take part. Additionally, over 100 virtual runners participated from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the USA. They received their run numbers, T-shirts, and medals ahead of event day.
History and Purpose
Run For The 97 was first staged in 2015 as a positive, inclusive event to celebrate the lives and honor the 97 Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989. Last month marked 37 years since the disaster. The event also remembers the families of the 97 and the survivors, who have tirelessly fought for justice with dignity. They continue to campaign for a Hillsborough Law.
Charity Partners and Supporters
The official charity partners are Jamie Carragher's 23 Foundation; Liverpool FC's official charity, LFC Foundation; and Stanley Park junior parkrun, along with its three sister parkruns at The Mystery Park in Wavertree, Derby Park in Bootle, and Norris Green. Hillsborough family members and justice campaigners, including Margaret Aspinall, Steve Kelly, and Sue Roberts, have been involved since the beginning. They continue to spearhead the Hillsborough Law campaign.
Former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher, Chris Kirkland, and Sammy Lee supported the event. Guests included Nicola Carragher, Matt Parish (CEO of LFC Foundation), Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, and Ian Byrne (Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby and co-founder of Fans Supporting Foodbanks). Dennis Adelsberg, aged 96 from Ormskirk, a regular participant, returned after missing last year due to a broken leg.
Community and Atmosphere
Runners donated non-perishable food items to Fans Supporting Foodbanks. Rock Choir Liverpool entertained participants on the 5K route near the Isla Gladstone Conservatory. Football club anthems, including You'll Never Walk Alone and Z Cars, played, followed by a minute's applause. The Hollies' 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' accompanied runners crossing the start line. The 5K accessible route wound through Stanley Park, along Walton Lane, Priory Road, Arkles Lane, back into the park, past the Eternal Flame on 97 Avenue at Anfield Stadium, and to the finish line.
Junior Participation
The junior parkrun team hosted a warm-up before the 1 Mile fun run, with youngsters setting off to The Farm's 'Altogether Now'.
Fundraising and Impact
Entry fees cover all event aspects, including run numbers, T-shirts, medals, virtual entries, staging, safety, and facilities. Since 2015, Run For The 97 has raised over £45,000 for good causes. Funds raised are split equally among the three charity partners for community outreach. For a second year, fundraisers The Red Indians presented a cheque for £1,020.97.
Organizer's Statement
Alan Rothwell, BTR Liverpool Founder, said: "This is the 12th Run For The 97 – and each year it becomes more poignant. The sun was shining brightly for The 97. Stanley Park was a sea of red T-shirts, all walking, jogging, and running for an incredibly special reason. As a city, red and blue standing side by side, Hillsborough is something we will never forget. Run For The 97 embodies everything that Liverpool stands for – camaraderie, compassion, pride, and strength."
Event History and Future
Run For The 97 has continued annually since 2015, with virtual runs during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. BTR Liverpool's annual calendar includes the Liverpool Half Marathon, Liverpool Santa Dash, Mersey Tunnel 10K, Women's 10K and 5K Liverpool, and Wirral 10K. In 2025, BTR Liverpool was acquired by Run For All, owned by the Jane Tomlinson Appeal. The next event is the Port Sunlight Road Race 10K and 5K on June 7, 2026.
