Craige’s Great Manchester Run Challenge

Manchester photographer Craige Barker is taking on the Great Manchester Run this September in aid of St Ann’s.  

Craige, 58, is taking on the 10km challenge to show his support to his wife, Debbie who is an outpatient at our Being You Centre in Heald Green. Debbie, who has multiple sclerosis that has left her in a wheelchair and with difficulties eating, has been receiving specialist therapy from our hospice for the last two years. 

Despite Covid-19 impacting on Debbie’s therapy sessions, Craige and his daughter Lauren are taking on the 10km challenge after witnessing the benefits of the hospice’s care on Debbie.  

Last year, Craige raised over £1,800 for St Ann’s after running the virtual Great Manchester Run around his local park in Cheadle Hulme. In the last ten years, Craige has taken on a 10km challenge annually for a range of charities in support of Debbie, giving all his medals to his wife.  

For the last two years, Craige has focused on raising funds for St Ann’s and has so far raised £350 this year for the challenge after raffling off a Frank Sidebottom hand drawn picture on Facebook. 

The connection to St Ann’s goes beyond care for Debbie, as her father, Bill, received end of life care at our hospice in 2008.  

Both Debbie and her father were big on the music scene in Manchester, with Debbie performing in a Diana Ross and the Supremes tribute band and Bill being a big band saxophonist performing in notable plays and pantomimes in the city. Craige is so thankful for the support that he also took on the Manchester Virtual Walk earlier this month to raise even more money for St Ann’s.   

To support Craige, please visit his fundraising page here.