MELANIE Chisholm put her name down today for a new 5K run to start next April to honour the 96 Hillsborough Victims.
The former Spice Girl was at the launch of the event at the Isla Gladstone Conservatory in Liverpool’s Stanley Park, just before the kick off of the Reds highly anticipated home clash with Manchester City.
“Sporty Spice”, who recently celebrating her 40th birthday, spent the previous day with daughter Scarlett at a funfair in her hometown of Widnes. She said she’d take part in the run at the inaugural event next April.
And she predicted it will become a firm favourite for runners around the country.
“A 5K is a great distance because it can attract so many people. It will also keep alive the memories of those who died at Hillsborough,” said Mel C.
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The event is the brainchild of Dom Williams who created the Hillsborough-Anfield Run. This year the 96-mile run started in Liverpool, reaching Sheffield in three days.
Mel C was at the Hillsborough Memorial Eternal Flame for the start of that marathon. Walton MP Steve Rotheram joined the runners on the first leg of their marathon across the Pennines.
Dom Williams has joined forces with event organisers BTR Liverpool to plan the new 5K race. The date will be set once next season’s football fixtures have been announced by the FA, but it is likely to be mid-April.
BTR Liverpool also organises the Liverpool Santa Dash and the Liverpool Half Marathon.
Steve Rotheram believes the new 5K will attract national attention, and television interest.
“It could become one of the main 5K runs in the country,” he said. “We see the London Marathon television and others, including the Great North Run. You would expect Liverpool, with its fabulous waterfront backdrop would be a cert for television.”
The launch was watched today by families of the 96, including one of their main spokespeople, Margaret Aspinall.
Margaret also welcomed the launch of the new race.
“It’s been a very trying few weeks for the families, with the start of the inquest, and the 25th anniversary coming up on Tuesday. This race will enable young people of the future to remember what happened at Hillsborough,” she said.
The proposed 5K route will see the event start and finish in Stanley Park, but passing the Hillsborough Memorial in Anfield Road.
MP Steve Rotherham and Margaret Aspinall at the launch
BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell, a lifelong Everton supporter, said: “This new event is a fitting way to engage the public who are keen to do their bit to help. We will be encouraging fans from both Liverpool and Everton to take part and hopefully wearing their club colours as a fitting tribute.”
Rothwell has 42 marathons under his belt as a runner, including 22 London and six New York marathons.
