#TeamStAnns took on real Gladiators to help raise funds for our patients

People from across Greater Manchester took on real Gladiators in aid of the hospice at a game-show obstacle course on Saturday 16th September 2017.

The event, which is the world’s only obstacle course with real Gladiators, took place at Heaton Park, where hundreds of participants braved inflatable obstacles as they battled the 5km and 10km courses.

Each course was complete with obstacles such as giant foamy slides, bouncing inflatables and wobbly water bridges, with a grand finale Gauntlet – an 8 metre long inflatable runway with three Gladiators to dodge, followed by a jump onto a giant air bag to the finish line.

Fran Wilson, Lead Events Fundraiser at St Ann’s, said:  “We’re always amazed by the different ways people come up with to support the hospice, and The Gauntlet Games was such an amazing spectacle.  We can’t thank the runners who chose to help our patients in this way enough – especially for braving those Gladiators!”

The Gauntlet Games was created in 2015 and is the brainchild of Sarah King, who wanted to give people the chance of having real fun while running.

She said: ”I find running quite boring, so I wanted to find a way to make it fun. I think everyone would love to take part in game-show obstacle courses and Gladiators was one of my favourites.

“We love seeing people come face-to-face with the friendly Gladiators on our course, in giggles as they take on our huge inflatable, water and foam obstacles. This is all about doing something active and healthy, but having great fun doing so. To add to this, about 50% of our runners raise money for hundreds of different charities so they’re doing good whilst getting fit.”

To find out how you can pay in the money you have raised, please click here, email events@sah.org.uk or call the team on 0161 498 3631.