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Southport urged to give up clothes for good

OVER September 2019, it is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and people on Merseyside are being called on to clear out their wardrobes to help more children and young people survive cancer. They are being urged to donate any pre loved quality clothing, accessories and home ware they no longer need to TK Maxx's Give Up Clothes For Good campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People. When sold in Cancer Research UK shops, each bag of items donated could raise up to ₤30 to help fund dedicated research into children's and young people's cancers.  In the North West, around 190 youngsters are diagnosed with cancer every year.  Anna Taylor, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Merseyside, said:- "More children and young people than ever are surviving cancer. But there's still so much more to do. Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment and the long term side effects survivors often experience. So, it needs different, dedicated research which campaigns like Give Up Clothes For Good help to fund. Cancer still claims the lives of around 510 under 25s every year in the UK. We want to help more children and young people in the North West, and across the UK, survive cancer with a good quality of life. That's why we hope as many people as possible will show their support and donate any quality clothes or goods to their local TK Maxx store. Unwanted items really could save lives."

TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK's work into children's and young people's cancers. Since 2004, the retailer has raised more than ₤32.5 million to help improve survival. Jo Murphy, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at TK Maxx, said:- "We are incredibly grateful to our associates and customers who have helped us raise over ₤32.5 million for Cancer Research UK's life-saving work in children's and young people's cancers. We hope our support will go some way to improve the outcomes of children and young people affected by cancer."

Give Up Clothes For Good is 1 of the UK's longest running clothes collection campaigns. It also provides an environmental benefit through the re-use and recycling of goods. People can donate at any TK Maxx. Supporters can also help raise funds by wearing a gold ribbon badge, the awareness symbol of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, that is available from TK Maxx and Cancer Research UK stores, throughout September 2019.  For more information visit:- CRUK.Org/ChildrenAndYoungPeople.

Runners Turn Out In Force For Wirral Race Weekend

Almost 1,200 participants pulled on their trainers to take part in the BTR Wirral 10K, BTR Wirral ½ Marathon or 26 mile 3 day BTR Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral. The hat trick of races were organised and delivered by Hoylake based BTR Liverpool. The 7th annual BTR Wirral 10K and BTR Wirral ½ Marathon took place, in New Brighton, Merseyside, on Sunday, 8 September 2019. This was the 3rd year the races have started and finished at The Dips. Finishers in all 3 races received a commemorative medal and T-shirt to mark their achievement.

The races were officially started by the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Tony Smith, and his wife and Mayoress, Barbara Smith. They were joined by Everton Football Club Ambassador Graham Stuart, who was representing club charity, Everton in the Community.

Runners headed along the promenade to Seacombe Ferry, before returning to New Brighton to pass Fort Perch Rock, making their way along Ian Fraser Walk to the Clown Roundabout. The 10K runners then veered off to the finish line, while the ½ marathon runners continued towards the Leasowe Lighthouse before returning and heading to the finish line.

For those taking part in the 5th annual BTR Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral, the Wirral ½ Marathon was the last of their 3 races. They had previously completed 5 miles off road race at Arrowe Park on Friday, 6 September 2019, followed the next morning by 8 miles multi terrain along the beach, at Thurstaston, through Thurstaston Country Park and along the Wirral Way.

The BTR Wirral 10K 2019 was won by Michael Heyes representing Mersey Tri in a time of 36 minutes 13 2nds. Colin Walsh from Penny Lane Striders took 2nd place in 37 minutes 23 2nds, with 3rd place James Blake recording 37 minutes 45 2nds.

Carmel Edwards took 1st female place in the BTR Wirral 10K in 39 minutes 12 2nds. 2nd place female was Elaine Opara in 45 minutes 9 2nds representing Wallasey AC, followed by 3rd place female Natasha Culkin in 47 minutes 49 2nds.

The winner of the BTR Wirral ½ Marathon 2019 was Andrew Parkinson from Mossley Hill AC in 1 hour 15 minutes 55 2nds. He was followed by James Nicholls from South Cheshire Harriers in 1 hour 20 minutes 26 2nds, and 3rd place Graham Rands from Manchester Tri Cub in 1 hour 20 minutes 43 2nds.

Ffion Hughes took 1st female place in the BTR Wirral ½ Marathon recording a time of 1 hour 29 minutes 51 2nds; setting a new female course record since the route was changed in 2017. 2nd place female was Louise Casey from Widnes Running Club in 1 hour 31 minutes 50 2nds; beating her 1st place position time, in 2018, by 1 minute 27 2nds. 3rd place was Jennifer Brady from Liverpool Running Bugs in 1 hour 33 minutes 37 2nds. 

Jay Walker from Wallasey AC returned to the Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral for his 5th consecutive year, and is 1 of a handful of runners who have taken part each year since the race was introduced by BTR in 2015.  In 2015 Jay recorded 13th place, moving up to 7th place in 2016, 3rd place in 2017, and taking the top honours back in 2018. This time he recorded his fastest combined time of all 3 races in 2 hours 37 minutes 55 2nds; beating 2018's winning time by 4 minutes 52 2nds. 2nd place male in the Whistle Stop was Dave Lemon from Buckley Runners in 2 hours 49 minutes 32 2nds. 3rd place was taken for the 2nd consecutive year by Steven Longmore in 2 hours 50 minutes 36 2nds; Steven has also taken part every year.  1st place female finisher in the Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral 2019 was Zoe Richardson in a time of 3 hours 7 minutes 51 2nds. She was followed by Sophie Weston in 3 hours 25 minutes 44 2nds, with 3rd place taken by Alex Buckley from Chorlton Runners in 3 hours 28 minutes 53 2nds.

Sunday's field of runners also included a group of 40 runners from the Bank Of America in Chester. They took part across both races to raise funds for their chosen charity of the year, HoneyPot, who have a base in Welshpool. They raised more than ₤1,200 by taking part in the races.  BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region.  Its portfolio also includes the long established BTR Liverpool ½ Marathon which marks its 27th consecutive event in March 2020; Port Sunlight Road Race 5K and 10K; BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K; 52 mile BTR Tour Of Merseyside; and the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash; the UK's biggest festive fun run.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell commented:- "Congratulations to all our runners who each took on their own personal race challenge in the Wirral 10K, Wirral ½ Marathon or Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral. We're delighted that Wirral's Mayor and Mayoress and Everton Football Club Ambassador Graham Stuart joined us to start the race, adding a real sense of occasion. A big thank you must also go to our volunteer teams from Claire House Children's Hospice and Everton in the Community, as well as many runners from across the Merseyside running community who helped out across the weekend."

Next up in the BTR portfolio is the world famous Liverpool Santa Dash, on Sunday, 1 December 2019, the UK's biggest festive 5K fun run. The event also includes a 1K Mini Dash for youngsters. Blue Santa suits are limited. Find out more please visit:- BTRLiverpool.Com.