The BUPA Great Manchester Run 2013 - Uganda in the spotlight.

On Sunday 26th May, over 40,000 brave souls took to the streets of Manchester in the searing heat (yes, really!) to run 10km in aid of a multitude of charities. Eleven members of the Routes team (pictured below) took part in the run in a bid to raise funds for the Gorilla Organization; a charity that works within Central Africa to protect the endangered mountain gorilla in its native habitat.

Uganda was strongly represented in the run with Moses Kipsiro securing a famous victory in a sprint finish, just seconds ahead of his childhood hero, Haile Gebrselassie. In the spirit of the event, the Routes team dressed up for the occasion with one member of staff dressing as a banana and another participating in full gorilla outfit.

Routes Africa 2013 will be taking place in Entebbe, Uganda in early July and this initiative was devised as a way to support the host country. It was a real challenge for the team and everyone at Routes is proud of those that took part in the race, so a big well done from all your colleagues to (in alphabetical order)… Tom Atkinson, Marketing Executive; Chris Hayes, Digital Business Development Manager – Routesonline; Jon Howell, Tourism Development Manager; Emma Lambert, Travel Executive; Sean Lawrence, Group Accountant; Natasha Peck, Marketing Director; Anna Shires, Airline Manager; Kirsty Studholme, Scheduling Executive; Caryn Turton, Travel Manager; Lee Weaver, Graphic Designer; Claire Woolstencroft, Human Resources Director.

We’re incredibly grateful for the support we have received from the entire Routes community. The team has reached its £500 fundraising target, but it is not too late to contribute to this fantastic cause: www.justgiving.com/thegreatgorillarun