http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/run-rhys-family-fun-run-13399332
Rhys Jones ’ life will be celebrated with a family fun run designed to mark his legacy and support the community work carried out in his memory.
The Run for Rhys event, to take place in
Croxteth Country Park next month, will be held just days after the 10th anniversary of the schoolboy’s tragic death.
Race bosses hope runners will raise donations to help the Rhys Jones Community Centre continue its work in the Croxteth area.
Rhys was walking home from football training when he was gunned down on the evening of August 22, 2007.
The 11-year-old was hit by a bullet fired by Croxteth Crew gang member Sean Mercer as the then 16-year-old aimed at a rival across the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park.
The fight to put Mercer and his criminal associates behind bars attracted international attention while Rhys’s death sparked a huge outpouring of grief and calls to end the brutal gangland rivalry that had caused misery on the streets of Croxteth and
Norris Green .
One of the key symbols of those demands for change was the creation of the centre, designed to improve community unity, in Rhys’s memory.
Earlier this year the project relaunched as a social enterprise with the team hiring out its football pitches, multi-use hall and meeting rooms to raise funds to keep the doors open so it can continue to deliver its community projects.
Ongoing programmes include youth work, music and literacy workshops, and holiday activities.
As the tenth anniversary of Rhys’s murder approaches, the team behind the Rhys Jones Community Centre is working with race event organiser BTR Liverpool to organise and deliver the fun run day.
Due to take place on Sunday, August 27, the event will feature runs over one mile, 3km and 5km.
Karen Harper, a director at centre, said: “Next month August marks a decade since the tragic loss of Rhys. The recent TV drama Little Boy Blue has reignited the memory of Rhys in everyone’s minds, so we feel the time is right to organise a legacy event in Rhys’s name as a positive way to celebrate his life.
“Rhys was a bright, caring young boy, who had a fantastic future ahead of him which was so cruelly taken away. But with the help and support of BTR and the Merseyside community, we are committed to bringing an aspirational initiative to the Croxteth community who supported Rhys’s parents Melanie and Stephen, and his older brother Owen in their darkest hours.
“We are inviting the community to be part of this very special day by taking part in the fun runs.
“Rhys would have loved this idea as he was very sporty, so it will be a very special tribute to his memory.”
Registration is £16 for the 5km, £14 for the 3km and £12 for the one mile. Those fees will pay to stage and deliver the event.
Organisers hope those who take part will fundraise for the Rhys Jones Community Centre CIC to support its work.
Sponsor forms are available, or donations can be made direct to
the centre’s Go Fund Me page .
Family activities will also take place in the grounds and everyone taking part in the fun run will receive a specially designed technical running T-shirt - which can be collected beforehand so it can be worn for the run. All finishers will also receive a commemorative medal.
The one mile fun run will start at 10am, followed by the 3K at 11am, with the 5K setting off at midday.
