At BTHCC, running has become so much more than a sport. It’s a way we honour those we love, support our community through grief and loss, and strengthen the bonds between staff and students. What began as one challenge has evolved into a regular part of life at BTH.

How it began – running for Jude

Our running journey began in November 2023, when a group of staff took on the Wilmslow 10K in aid of Bone Cancer Research Trust, in memory of a wonderful student of ours, Jude.

Jude joined BTHCC in September 2017 as a Year 7 student. He faced his bone cancer diagnosis with incredible bravery and courage, until he sadly passed away in February 2018. During a conversation at the time, we realised that this year Jude would have been turning 18. To honour his legacy, we gathered as many staff as possible to run the Wilmslow 10K for him.

That day changed something in us. The sense of purpose, togetherness and pride sparked a real buzz for running among staff and BTH Runs was born.

Running through grief – supporting our community

After Wilmslow, we knew we wanted to keep going—not just for charity, but for our college community.

Following a year in which many of our staff and students experienced the loss of family members, we decided to take on a new challenge: the Manchester Half Marathon.

• 30 staff members committed to running the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday 13th October 2024.

• Our aim: to raise money to invest in the resources needed to provide exceptional care for families, students and staff dealing with grief, loss and bereavement.

Then came the big one.....

On Sunday 27th April 2025, 16 members of staff ran the Manchester Marathon, once again raising funds to support our college community through bereavement. Alongside these events, many staff were also completing their own personal running milestones.

Through all of this, we realised just how powerful running can be—not only for mental health and charitable causes, but also for staff morale, team building and a shared sense of hope.

Running for causes close to our hearts

In September 2025, over 30 staff members took on the Altrincham 10K in support of The Christie, a charity very close to many people’s hearts. Running through our local area, past familiar streets and faces, it was incredibly special to see so many of our students out cheering us on.

These events have helped us:

• Honour loved ones

• Support vital charities

• Build resilience and community spirit

• Show our students what it means to live out our values in action

Our next chapter – running with our students

Our next challenge was the Tatton 10K on the 7th of February, and this time it wasn't just staff lacing up their trainers.

We ran for CAFOD, with 11 students and 10 staff members who took part. It was fantastic to have our students involved in BTH Runs. They worked so hard on fundraising to raise as much money as possible for CAFOD and they reached their target of over £1000! 

Seeing staff and students train, fundraise and run side by side is exactly what BTH Runs is all about: community, compassion and courage.

Running (and Walking!) Together – Everyone Is Welcome

At BTH Runs, it’s never just about how fast you can go or whether you consider yourself “a runner”. What matters to us is being part of something together.

We are fully inclusive, and everyone is always invited to join in with any challenge we take on. In fact, several of our support staff and teachers chose to walk the 10K at our recent events and they still enjoyed every moment. The atmosphere, the teamwork and the shared sense of purpose are what make these days so special.

Our Next Big Challenge – The Yorkshire Three Peaks

This year, our major challenge is the Yorkshire Three Peaks in June, raising money for Caritas. We have 16 members of staff taking on the 26‑mile hike, aiming to complete all three peaks within 12 hours.

It has been fantastic to see new faces getting involved especially staff who prefer walking to running. Their enthusiasm has added a whole new dimension to BTH Runs and shows just how powerful these challenges can be for bringing people together.

 

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Mrs Hogg is also taking on her own incredible challenge to support CAFOD by running the AJ Bell Great North Run on Sunday 13 September 2026.

The Great North Run is the world’s biggest half marathon, with around 60,000 runners taking on the famous route from Newcastle to South Shields. This year, Mrs Hogg will be one of them, running not just for the achievement, but to raise vital funds for CAFOD and the communities they support around the world.

She has set herself a fundraising target, and as a college community we would love to help her smash it.

Let’s get behind her:

• Sponsor if you can - SPONSOR HERE

• Share her fundraising page

Every donation, message of support and share makes a difference. Together, we can help Mrs Hogg beat her target for CAFOD.

More than miles

BTH Runs isn’t just about finish lines and medals. It’s about:

• Honouring memories

• Supporting each other through loss

• Raising money for causes that matter

• Building a stronger, kinder college community

If you’d like to support our next challenge or find out more about BTH Runs, keep an eye on our newsletters and social media for updates and fundraising links.