Join the Bee Wave at the Great Manchester Run and help those in need

When you think of Manchester, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Football? Food? Trams? Corrie? No. Manchester is defined by our symbol: the worker bee. 

It symbolises our strength, our perseverance, and our ‘can-do’ attitude. And for participants of the Great Manchester Run this year, it’s about to mean a whole lot more.

The Great Manchester Run is an annual event, with organisers shutting off the city’s roads for locals to race and raise money for various charities. 

Each year, the event boasts more runners, more exciting live events along the route and even crazier costumes. However this year, a brand new phenomenon is set to take place. 

The teams behind Manchester City Council and the Great Manchester Run have put their heads together to create a new opportunity for Mancs to celebrate their wondrous city, by taking part in the Bee Wave during the run.

The Bee Wave will involve a large group of runners, all dressed in bee costumes (or bee-like decorations), racing together to create a kind of ‘swarm’; whether that be wings, stripes or both.

Organisers are asking for people, whether you are already running in the marathon or you are yet to sign up, to join the Bee Wave and choose to run for the We Love MCR Charity – a charity which supports the youth of Manchester to thrive and grow. 

By joining the Bee Wave, runners are not only raising funds for an amazing cause, but are also showing the world the very spirit of Manchester: joining together as a community to help those in need. 

“The Great Manchester Run has always been about celebrating the pride of Manchester,” said Catherine Foster of The Great Run Company.

“One of the city’s greatest assets is its people, and the Bee Wave is the embodiment of that, Mancunians coming together to do something amazing for Manchester.”

To take part, you can sign up on the Great Manchester Run website, or even buy your bee outfit as part of your entry into the race. You just need to get dressed up as bright, as glittery and as bee-autiful as possible to celebrate your city with fellow worker bees. 

“We’re always excited to host such a major event, made even better with the opportunity to help raise money for fellow Mancunians, it promises to be a special day,” said Councillor Luthfur Rahman of Manchester City Council.

“Every step will help us to raise funds, and every penny will allow us to support even more disadvantaged young Mancunians.” 

So what are you waiting for? Grab some wings and some yellow paint and get yourself signed up, for this is not something you want to miss.

Bee a part of something special.

SIGN UP