Up to 100 runners are due to set off from a gym in Breightmet at 7am on Saturday for a charity endurance challenge aimed at supporting families affected by the fatal collision on Wigan Road earlier this year.
How the event will work
Organised by The Performance Unit at Thrive Gym, the fundraiser adopts a backyard ultramarathon format. Participants will complete a five-kilometre loop every hour for up to ten hours — meaning those who run every lap could cover a maximum of 50 kilometres.
- Start time: 7am on Saturday (July 25)
- Format: five‑kilometre loop each hour for up to ten hours
- Route: from The Performance Unit towards Bolton and Bury Road, passing through Breightmet
- Entrants: gym members and local residents; not everyone is expected to run the full 50km
The event was put together by Joel Cooper, owner of Performance Unit, who said he wanted to deliver something that would "make a difference in the community" after the tragedy affected people known to members of the gym.
"When the crash happened, I realised that some of our members knew those in the taxi."
Background to the fundraiser
The appeal relates to a collision on Wigan Road in January that claimed four lives and left several others seriously injured. Those who died include the taxi driver and three young people who were travelling in the other vehicle.
| Victim | Age |
|---|---|
| Masrob Ali | 54 |
| Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali | 19 |
| Farhan Patel | 18 |
| Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar | 18 |
Four passengers who were in the taxi were taken to hospital with serious injuries at the time of the crash. The fundraiser aims to channel donations to the families affected, providing practical and financial support as they continue to recover from the loss.
What to expect locally
Residents around Breightmet and along the route towards Bolton and Bury Road should expect to see groups of runners throughout Saturday. The format allows participants to pace themselves — some will aim for only a few laps while others may attempt the full distance — and supporters are welcome to come along to encourage runners and make donations.
Organisers say the event has drawn backing from regulars at the gym as well as people from the wider community, reflecting the local desire to respond after a high‑profile and tragic collision earlier in the year.
Further information on how to contribute or to follow the event may be available via The Performance Unit and Thrive Gym’s channels on the day.
