Common questions

How do I apply for my own place? Back to top

Entry opens on 7 January 2010. Visit the Great Run website at www.greatrun.org| to secure your place. Once you have secured your own place, please email us at greatmanchesterrun@macmillan.org.uk| so we can welcome you to Team Macmillan. 

How do I apply for a guaranteed place? Back to top

Just fill in the Team Macmillan guaranteed place application form [PDF, 87kb]|  and return to us. All return details can be found on the application form.
 
We ask you to raise a minimum of £250 in sponsorship for Macmillan and pay a £34 registration fee in return for one of our guaranteed places. We will contact you within three working days to let you know whether your application has been successful. If you are successful we will let you know how you can pay your registration fee. Payment of registration fee confirms your place. 

How much sponsorship do I need to raise? Back to top

Charity guaranteed place runners

We ask that all our charity guaranteed place runners pledge to raise a minimum of £250 each. This will be due in one month after the event (23 June 2010). Of course we will give you all the encouragement and support you will need to make sure you smash that target.

Own place runners

If you have your own place then we ask you to raise as much as possible and we’ll provide you with the same level of care and support that our charity guaranteed place runners receive.

What is your 'own place'? Back to top

Your ‘own place’ means that you have registered for the Bupa Great Manchester Run directly with the organisers through their website www.greatrun.org| . You would have also paid a registration fee of £34 for that place. Once you have registered for your place you would have received a confirmation email from the organisers.

What is a 'charity guaranteed place'? Back to top

A ‘guaranteed place’ means that you have completed a ‘Team Macmillan guaranteed place application form’ and you were notified by Macmillan by phone that your application was successful. Then you would have received a fundraising pack with a covering letter stating ‘Congratulations and Welcome to Team Macmillan we are delighted to confirm your Guaranteed Place with us.’
 
In regards to sponsorship, we ask you to pledge to raise a minimum of £250 in sponsorship for Macmillan (due in by 23 June 2010) and pay a registration fee of £34.  

What kind of support will Macmillan give me? Back to top

When you join Team Macmillan you will be supported throughout your entire Bupa Great Manchester Run experience. In addition to our initial fundraising and training pack we will send you regular newsletters full of tips to help your prepare for the big day.

You will also be invited to our post-race recovery tent after the race, where you will receive some well-deserved refreshments. And if that isn’t enough, we will give you the loudest support possible throughout the race from our Team Macmillan supporter points.

Will Macmillan help with my training? Back to top

Of course! When you sign up to run the Bupa Great Manchester Run with Team Macmillan we will provide you with a comprehensive training pack and regular newsletters full of top tips, including advice from our Team Macmillan patrons. We will also advise you of other useful sources of information to help you prepare for the big day.

What happens if I get injured? Back to top

If you get injured whilst training we recommend you contact your GP, physio or specialist sports injury clinic. They will be able to advise you if you are fit enough to run. If you do need to withdraw you will need to let Great Run race organisers know as soon as possible as you will be able to defer your place to 2011. Please also let Macmillan know. 

When will I get my race number? Back to top

Approximately three weeks before race day the organisers will send you your race pack containing your race number and your running chip. These are vital as you will not be able to start the race without them.

Where can I find more specific information? Back to top

Visit the Great Run website| for more information on the Bupa Great Manchester Run. You will also find information on travel and accommodation. 

What difference will my sponsorship make? Back to top

 As a team we hope to raise over £90,000 in the Bupa Great Manchester Run. The funds raised from this event goes such a long way to help people affected by cancer, for example:

• £50 could pay for 106 copies of The cancer guide. This Macmillan booklet can help someone recently diagnosed with cancer, and their families, to understand cancer, its treatment, and the help available.
• £168 will run CancerLine for an hour. In this time, it will, on average, deal with 11 people affected by cancer, providing them with essential information, practical and emotional support. 
• £2,789 could fund a Macmillan cancer information and support officer for one month, providing people affected by cancer with the answers to their questions and talking through their cancer concerns.
• £35,583 will run the Macmillan Benefits Helpline for a month. In this time, it will, on average, deal with 784 cases and identify £1,285,000 in unclaimed benefits.
• £56,167 will run our Nurse Information Helpline for a month. In this time, it will, on average, deal with 2,750 calls and emails from people affected by cancer, providing them with essential information and medical support.
• £97,820 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for two years, giving people living with cancer and their families essential medical, practical and emotional support.