BTR Liverpool Skyline ˝ Marathon on 12 September 2021

A runner from Southport is attempting to break a Guinness World Record, at the BTR Liverpool Skyline ˝ Marathon, and is appealing for a helping hand on the day. 45 year old Paul Warrington, from Birkdale, will be running the 13.1 mile race, on Sunday, 12 September 2021, dressed in full hockey goalkeeper kit. He must beat a time of 2 hours and 45 minutes to break the current record. Entries are still open for the 28th Annual BTR Liverpool Skyline ˝ Marathon, which also includes a 10 mile race. The event boasts a grandstand start and finish area at the Pier Head, Liverpool. The races start, at 9am.

Paul, who is a member of Southport and Waterloo Athletics Club, must be accompanied throughout the race to ensure he meets the challenge criteria. On the day Paul must wear:- a helmet, chest protector, elbow protectors, hard pads on both legs, padded shorts, leg guards, hand pads and shoe pads. The kit weighs 12lbs, and that's before he adds standard running kit or his water hydration pack. The rules state that Paul must be accompanied throughout the race by an independent witness, ideally a fellow runner who is taking part in the race. Paul's race day companion will need to photograph him passing every mile marker and confirm he completed the race in full kit. He can take a breather and remove items of kit, but must not move forward until the kit is complete.

The challenge started as a joke with his hockey playing daughter. But after scouring the record books during lockdown, Paul found his challenge. He has been training in full kit including at his local Parkrun, at Hesketh Park, Southport. Paul is using the record attempt as his motivation to fundraise for Cancer Research UK. His father in law was diagnosed with lymphoma in Summer 2020, and after 6 months of chemotherapy is now in recovery. Paul has already raised ₤600, his donation page.

Paul Warrington commented:- "This all started as banter with my daughter, but it's very real now. I've been training in full kit and the race is fast approaching; it's going to be tough. I've ran the London Marathon four times, but this is most definitely going to be my biggest challenge yet. Now races are restarting I've sadly lost the volunteers I had lined up, so I would be grateful to anyone running a similar pace who is able to join me on the day and verify my attempt. People fundraise for so many important causes so I just wanted to do something a bit different as our family's way of saying thank you for the care my father in law is receiving. Running in hockey goalkeeper kit, attempting a record, and fundraising; that will keep me going when it gets tough. The whole experience is going to be very memorable."

The event marks the return of BTR races for the remainder of 2021, which also includes the BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K, on 26 September and the Appreciate Group Liverpool Santa Dash, on 5 December 2021. BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell commented:- "Races are back and it's such a great feeling after a challenging 16 months. Many people took to running to stay active during the Pandemic, and being active helped them through the many challenges of lockdown. Paul is a great example of taking a difficult situation and turning it into something positive. The running community is very supportive so please come forward if you can help; good luck Paul and smash that record, we're all right behind you."

If you are taking part in the BTR Liverpool Skyline ˝ Marathon and can help Paul on race day, please email:- Erica@BTRLiverpool.Com.  All BTR races will be organised and delivered in accordance with any Covid guidelines required at the time of events. Find out more about BTR races by visiting:- BTRLiverpool.Com.

This year marks 40 years since the 1st reports of what is now known as HIV

FROM World AIDS Day, 1 December to 5 December 2021, 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool, will exhibit handmade panels from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt. This is the 1st time in UK History UK AIDS Memorial Quilt has been exhibited inside a nightclub. The Nobel Peace Prize nominated AIDS QUILT commemorates lives lost to the AIDS Pandemic during the 1980's and 90's. Traditionally nightclubs were, and still are, a space where most Queer people feel safe enough to exist authentically. This exhibit is part of a wider programme of work to be released mid-September, full information will be released then.

Serena Cavanagh, Health Promotion Lead, Sahir House, said:- "We are very excited to be working with 24 Kitchen Street to continue our work to reduce the stigma that still surrounds HIV and HIV testing. The quilts enable us to reflect on our history, but also look forward to our goal of ending new transmissions by 2030. Our HIV positive guest speakers who will be attending some of the events really bring HIV to life and help dispel the myths that still surround the virus."

Josiah Worth, Partnership Development Coordinator at 24 Kitchen Street, said:- "This project was born from the rage and love of our Queer community's unwavering resilience. Connecting with this priceless historical relic in a space created for us and by us, is reinforcing how Queer people can affect real change worldwide on a historic scale."

Jonas Roberts, Production and Development Manager, at 24 Kitchen Street, said:- "Club culture has become too disjointed from its Queer roots. It's time for us to acknowledge and pay homage to Queer history."

For more information about Sahir House, visit:- Sahir.Org.UK and for information about the AIDS Memorial, visit:- AIDSQuiltUK.Org.