Convenience retailer Centra welcomed 1,600 runners from across Northern Ireland to Ormeau Park on Sunday morning (October 22) to take part in their annual fundraising and wellbeing event, Run Together.
The sold-out event has raised a staggering £36,000 so far through 5k and 10k registration fees as well as donations for Centra’s long-time charity partner Action Cancer, with funds still coming in.
Everyone that took part received a bespoke Centra Run Together medal, a packed goodie bag, a free lunch and a Frank and Honest coffee.
Centra has supported Action Cancer since 2001, and this year aims to raise an overall total of £175,000 to help keep the charity’s mobile detection The Big Bus on the road and provide its free life-saving services to communities across Northern Ireland, including breast screening, health checks, and new for 2023, skin cancer detection.
As part of Centra’s Live Well initiative, Run Together was designed to motivate people of any ability or age to embrace a healthy lifestyle by taking part in the run. Participants have the option to walk, jog or run through the park, alongside hundreds of others, to raise funds and awareness for Action Cancer.
Commenting on the launch, Jennifer Morton, Centra brand manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome back runners for our Run Together fundraising event for 2023. It was really fantastic to see so many people turn up at Ormeau Park to raise money for such a good cause.
“There was a great buzz around and it was lovely to see runners of all abilities to enjoy the experience. We would all like to say a big thank you to all the participants for their generous donations to Action Cancer and to all our suppliers for supporting the event.”
Lucy McCusker, corporate fundraising manager for Action Cancer, added: “We are unbelievably grateful to everyone who came to support Action Cancer today by taking part in Run Together. The donations this year are exceptional and are vital to the charity, enabling us to bring our life-saving services directly to people in need on the Big Bus. Thank you to Centra, for helping to keep The Big Bus on the road!”
Pictures by Brian Thompson Photography
