RUN FOR CHARITY
Charity 2027
The Wilmslow Running Festival is a charity in itself, organised by volunteers, from Wilmslow Running Club, Wilmslow Rugby Club, and the Phoenix Sports Club - with the aim of supporting local sports clubs and other local causes.
We are delighted to announce our 2026 charity partner is UK Sepsis Trust.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that affects over 245,000 people every year in the UK. It arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs, causing the immune system to go into overdrive. If not recognised and treated quickly, it can lead to shock, multiple organ failure, and even death.
Sepsis is indiscriminate: while it primarily affects young children and older adults - and is more common in people with underlying health conditions - it can also be triggered in those who are otherwise fit and healthy. Sepsis always starts with an infection and can be caused by any infection, from chest infections to UTIs.
About UKST
At least 48,000 people lose their lives to a sepsis-related illness every year in the UK. That's five lives every hour - more than breast, bowel, and prostate cancer combined. And for sepsis survivors, the road to recovery isn't always straightforward: an estimated 40% go on to suffer physical, cognitive and/or psychological aftereffects - sometimes, for the rest of their lives.
The UK Sepsis Trust is fighting to change these statistics. Their aim is to end preventable deaths from sepsis and improve outcomes for survivors. To achieve this, they:
Educate healthcare professionals
Raise vital public awareness
Support families through the complexities of sepsis recovery and bereavement with our dedicated, trained Support Nurses
Lobby for political change
Where does your money go?
£5 provides 100 awareness leaflets to the public
£27 covers one hour of telephone support with a Support Nurse
£50 helps us provide an awareness talk for a school or community
£105 helps us support one person through their recovery
Kate Mylchreest, Head of Income Generation at the UK Sepsis Trust, said:
“We are delighted to have been chosen as the charity partner for the Wilmslow Running Festival 2027 and are incredibly grateful to Running Bear for their support. This partnership presents a fantastic opportunity to raise vital funds for our life-saving work, enabling us to expand our support services, educate communities, and continue our efforts to save lives and improve outcomes. It will also allow us to engage with thousands of runners, supporters and local families.
“Sepsis remains one of the UK's leading causes of preventable death, yet awareness of the condition is still far too low. The support of Running Bear and everyone taking part in the festival will directly fuel our mission to change that and help us offer a lifeline to those families affected by the condition. We are very much looking forward to working together over the coming year.”
HOW THE WILMSLOW RUNNING FESTIVAL GIVES BACK EVERY YEAR
Donations
Income from the race, after costs, is donated to local sports clubs and deserving causes (we are run by volunteers and are not a commercial enterprise).
Partnerships
We partner with charities and supply them with free places and publicity to help them raise money directly through the event as well as offering race entrants the opportunity to donate at sign up.
Community
Our local event sponsors enable the Wilmslow Running Festival and our charity partners to maximise the amount of money we can raise and donate each year.
THANK YOU TO OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS
