The deeply significant Run For The 97 community legacy event returns to Stanley Park this weekend for another moving celebration of life and remembrance. The 12th staging of the event is set to take place on Saturday, May 23, in Stanley Park, with the inclusive family fun run already attracting over 1,400 eager entries from across the region. Participants of all ages and abilities will be lacing up their running shoes to honour the 97 Liverpool FC fans lost in the Hillsborough tragedy, ensuring their memory continues to unite the city.
The event will include soccer skills, a warm-up from junior parkrun, and a Fans Supporting Foodbanks donation point. Red and blue football supporters will walk, jog, or run to remember The 97. The 5K fun run starts at 9.30am, followed by the 1 Miler at approximately 10.30am. Final places are available online at the BTR Liverpool website, with entries due to close this week, so people are advised not to miss out.
More than 100 virtual runners have registered, including international participants from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the USA. This year’s official charity partners are Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation, the LFC Foundation, and Stanley Park junior parkrun along with its two sister parkruns at The Mystery Park in Wavertree and Derby Park in Bootle.
Two former Liverpool Football Club players are confirmed to attend on the day: defender Jamie Carragher and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. Both Jamie and Chris are instrumental in supporting community programmes across Liverpool. Run For The 97 was first staged in 2015 as a positive inclusive event to celebrate the lives and honour the 97 Liverpool Football Club fans who died at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989. Last month’s anniversary marked 37 years since the disaster.
The event also remembers the families of The 97 and the survivors, who have since tirelessly fought for justice with the utmost dignity. They continue to campaign for a Hillsborough Law. Run For The 97 is organised by BTR Liverpool, the leading organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region. The event takes place in Stanley Park, located between Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium and Everton FC’s Goodison Park, the new home of Everton Women.
The 5K accessible route takes runners through Stanley Park, along Walton Lane, Priory Road, Arkles Lane, back into the park before passing the Eternal Flame on 97 Avenue at Anfield Stadium, and then heading to the finish line in the middle of the park. The day will include family activities and a donation point for Fans Supporting Foodbanks, where people can drop off non-perishable food items.
Hillsborough family members and justice campaigners Margaret Aspinall, Steve Kelly, and Sue Roberts have all been involved since the event began. Margaret Aspinall, former Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, lost her 18-year-old son James at Hillsborough. Steve Kelly lost his brother Michael, aged 38, and helped create and shape the event. Sue Roberts, former HFSG Secretary, lost her 24-year-old brother Graham.
The event provides a platform for participants to fundraise or make a one-off charity donation. Since it was first staged, Run For The 97 has helped raise over £45,000 for good causes in the city. Beneficiary charity partners Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation, LFC Foundation, and Stanley Park junior parkrun together support the vision of creating a legacy to honour The 97, while ensuring local communities benefit through their work. Funds raised will be split equally between the charities for vital community outreach programmes.
The official fundraising JustGiving page can be found online. The entry fee pays to stage and deliver all aspects of the event including run numbers, T-shirts, medals, virtual entries, event day staging, safety measures, and runner facilities.
Alan Rothwell, BTR Liverpool Founder, said: “Run For The 97 is an incredibly special event, and we invite people to join us to walk, jog, or run to remember The 97. Hillsborough is something that as a city and football supporters, red and blue, we will never forget. We are delighted to again work alongside and support three very important charities - Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation, LFC Foundation, and Stanley Park junior parkrun. By working together, we can continue to educate the next generation through sport. Run For The 97 embodies everything that Liverpool stands for - camaraderie, compassion, pride, and strength. Entries are due to close this week, so please do not miss out if you’re planning to take part and not yet registered.”
Run For The 97 has continued every year since 2015. During the pandemic it went ahead as a virtual run in 2020 and 2021, ensuring people could still support the cause and fundraise. The virtual run option has continued, allowing football fans across the UK and overseas to support the event. They are sent their run number, T-shirt, and medal direct so they can still be part of the day.
The BTR Liverpool annual calendar of competitive races and fun runs take place between March and December. The portfolio also features Liverpool Half Marathon, Liverpool Santa Dash, Mersey Tunnel 10K, Port Sunlight Road Race 10K and 5K, Women’s 10K and 5K Liverpool, and Wirral 10K. In 2025, BTR Liverpool and its successful portfolio of events was acquired by Run For All. Mass participation events company Run For All is wholly owned by the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, and continues to honour her ongoing legacy.
