Altrincham will welcome one of its most familiar faces to the start line as the town prepares for the largest-ever edition of the annual 10K on Sunday, September 6. Barbara Thackray, aged 88, will act as an honorary race starter alongside the constituency MP, Connor Rand, to set roughly 4,500 runners on their way from the town centre at 9.30am.
Local fundraiser to lead the field
Thackray, a long-standing fundraiser for St Ann’s Hospice, first took up running at the age of 77 in 2015 to raise money in memory of her sister, Audrey Humphreys. According to event organisers, she has now raised in excess of £50,000 through running and other fundraising efforts, and has completed every Altrincham 10K to date. She ran her final competitive race at the 2025 event, aged 87, and this year will return to the start line in an honorary role.
"After meeting Barbara following her final Altrincham 10k last year, I'm delighted to be joining her as an honorary race starter this year,"
Mr Rand, MP for Altrincham and Sale West, said he was proud to take part in what organisers describe as the biggest edition of the race so far.
Charity focus and community impact
The event is organised by RunThrough, and this year The Christie Charity has been named Official Charity of the Year. The charity supports The Christie cancer centre by funding research, treatment, care and education.
Jack Williams, CEO of RunThrough, highlighted Thackray’s role in the event's history. He said she represents the qualities that make the race special, from commitment to running to long-term charitable work.
- Date and time: Sunday, 6 September — race starts at 9.30am
- Expected participants: about 4,500 runners
- Start/finish: Altrincham town centre
- Official charity: The Christie Charity
Route and local preparations
The route begins and ends in the town centre, passing down Hale Road and through Hale Barns, before looping around Davenport Green and returning via Grove Lane and Moss Lane. With thousands expected in and around the centre, residents and businesses should plan for temporary disruption to parking and traffic between the start time and the return of the final runners.
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Start time | 9.30am |
| Key roads | Hale Road, Grove Lane, Moss Lane, Hale Barns, Davenport Green |
| Charity | The Christie Charity |
Organisers have not published detailed road closure times in the material supplied, but the scale of the event — billed as the biggest yet — means the town centre is likely to see significant footfall and diversionary measures on race morning. Local traders and residents have been told previously that major events of this size could affect deliveries, parking and access to some frontages for a limited period.
Community story behind the runner
Thackray’s running began as a personal fundraising mission for St Ann’s Hospice, which cared for her sister before her death at 56. Her ongoing commitment to the hospice stretches back 27 years, prior to taking up running, and she remains a recognised volunteer and fundraiser in Altrincham.
Her presence at the start will add a familiar, human element to what is otherwise a competitive and family-focused mass participation event. For many residents, the Altrincham 10K has become as much a community festival as a race, showcasing local volunteers, clubs and charities.
Race organisers have urged spectators and drivers to check the RunThrough website and social channels for any last-minute information, and to arrive early if they plan to support runners in person. The event is expected to bring a substantial crowd into the town centre and provide a boost to local hospitality businesses on the day.
The Altrincham 10K begins at 9.30am on Sunday, 6 September, with Barbara Thackray and Connor Rand performing the honorary start duties.
