OVER 600 runners from businesses across the north donned their trainers for the latest instalment of the Grant Thornton Runway Run.
Now in its fifth year, the annual 5K team race at Belfast City Airport took place on Thursday night, with entrants representing organisations in the public, private and third sectors.
Runners from AECOM were awarded first place as the fastest mixed team, while Invest Northern Ireland claimed the men’s prize and Danske Bank came first in the women’s category.
Richard Gillan, managing partner of Grant Thornton Northern Ireland, outlined how the event has grown to become a firm fixture in the diary of many leading Northern Ireland companies.
“Over the five years of the event, around 2,700 runners have taken part covering a total of 13,500km between them," he said.
“Many of the businesses represented at this year’s race, from the legal sector, banking, construction, manufacturing, and others, have participated before – some of them every year since the Runway Run’s inception
“This highlights the tremendous attraction the race, now firmly established in the calendars of leading firms from across Northern Ireland, has become, as a great way for staff to engage with each other and network with others from outside their organisation."
The Simon Community was selected as charity partner for the event, which forms part of the GT5K Corporate Challenge Series.
Brian Shanks, corporate partnerships manager at Simon Community NI added:
"This popular event is a great way to highlight Northern Ireland’s homelessness crisis while raising vital funds for the development of our homelessness services.
“With a vision of a society where everyone has a home, the generosity and passion we receive from Grant Thornton employees and the wider corporate community goes a long way to helping us meet the needs of over 3,000 people each year.”
