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Video: 2,000 runners take part in the Run For The 96

Over 2,000 people took part in the annual Run For The 96 in Stanley Park last Sunday, with a surprise visit from former boss Rafa Benitez adding to the occasion.

Runners wearing red and blue commemorative t-shirts stood side by side for the community legacy fun run in Stanley Park โ€“ a fitting location between Liverpoolโ€™s Anfield Stadium and Evertonโ€™s Goodison Park.

The overall aim of the Run For The 96 5K is to celebrate the lives of the 96 Liverpool fans, who were unlawfully killed in the Hillsborough tragedy on 15 April 1989.

Run For The 96 5K also remembers the families of The 96 and the survivors, who have tirelessly fought for justice with dignity for 27 years.

Hillsborough Family Support Group Chairman Margaret Aspinall was applauded as she took to the stage to welcome the runners to Stanley Park and, on behalf of the families, thank the crowd for taking part.

As the run started, a number of runners formed a long queue alongside the stage just to shake hands with Margaret before they set off on the 5K.

Margaret was joined by former Liverpool Football Club manager Rafa Benitez, whose family was taking part in the 5K run and was a surprise special guest on the day.

Since his time at Anfield, Mr Benitez has developed a strong bond with the Hillsborough families. He also proved popular with the crowd, posing for photographs and signing autographs.

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“This is a day to enjoy and remember,” said Benitez. “My family took part. I love the city, I love the fans and Liverpool is home. Run For The 96 5K is a great idea to support the families and the memory of The 96.”

The big surprise of the day was a plane flying the banner Always Remember 15.04.89 over Stanley Park to the sound of football club anthems Youโ€™ll Never Walk Alone and Z Cars.

This was followed by a minuteโ€™s applause for The 96. The crowd set off on their 5K fun run to the sound of The Justice Collectiveโ€™s cover of The Holliesโ€™ classic He Ainโ€™t Heavy, Heโ€™s My Brother โ€“ the song which unites Liverpool and Everton and shows the solidarity of the red and blue sides of the city.

Participants included runners from Scotland, the Midlands and Northern Ireland, who travelled to Liverpool especially to take part. A number of runners in Ireland and Australia also ran their own 5K at the same time to remember The 96.

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Run For The 96 5K is the brainchild of Dom Williams who, together with 14 fellow runners and support crew, ran from Hillsborough to Anfield in less than 24 hours covering approximately 75 miles.

Dom and the team lay flowers at the Hillsborough memorial at Sheffield Wednesday on the morning of Saturday, 21 May. They ran through the night and arrived at the Isla Gladstone in Stanley Park just in time for the 5K.

He developed the idea of Run For The 96 5K with race organisers BTR Liverpool to create a new 5K community legacy fun run as a way of engaging the wider community to run to remember The 96. BTR organise and deliver Run For The 96 5K.

Participants were invited to fundraise for the Liverpool FC Foundation and Everton in the Community, the charitable arms of the cityโ€™s two football clubs to enable them to continue their fantastic work across Merseyside.

The charity element is a key part of the eventโ€™s commitment to ensuring that local communities benefit from the legacy run. All funds raised or donated by those taking part are split equally between the two charities.

Last year, ยฃ8,113.32 was raised for the Liverpool FC Foundation and Everton in the Community through the event โ€“ therefore each receiving ยฃ4,056.66.

People can fundraise or make donations by visiting the official Virgin Giving page.