Celebrate Jack’s 13th birthday as virtual challenge replaces this year's Run Wigan Festival

Joining Jack has announced the popular Run Wigan Festival, which is usually held in March, has been postponed to spring 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Race director Matt Johnson said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision to reschedule the HW Moon Toyota Run Wigan Festival.

“As a charity and as event organisers, we feel it is the sensible and safest decision given the current situation with the nation’s third lockdown in the past 10 months now in place until at least mid-February, most likely longer.

“Given the year we have all experienced, we are incredibly disappointed to have had to make this decision and undoubtedly disappoint all our amazing supporters who had been looking forward to Joining Jack’s first flagship fund-raising event of 2021.

“We share your frustration, we are all thoroughly heartbroken.

“But, as the HW Moon Toyota Run Wigan Festival features four different races, two of which require extensive training, and given even the most optimistic prospect of the country being taken out of lockdown is currently following the February half-term, the more likely prospect being the end of March before any significant restrictions are lifted, we feel we cannot responsibly put on a mass participation event.”

Instead, the charity is holding a virtual challenge inspired by Jack Johnson, Matt’s nephew and the charity’s namesake.

He celebrates his 13th birthday on Wednesday, January 20 and the first 13 For 13 virtual challenge will be held to mark the occasion.

Participants are asked to run 13.1 miles - a half marathon - to earn a medal and support the charity, which funds research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Runners and walkers can follow the official half marathon course or do their own route and have the whole of March to complete it, so can break it into smaller chunks. The challenge is open to people of all ages.

People can log finishing times and submit evidence of their runs, such as photographs or a Strava screenshot, to www.theentrypoint.co.uk or to Joining Jack by the end of March. Medals will be posted out from April.

Runners who deferred places in Run Wigan Festival’s 2020 event can choose to take part in the 13 For 13 challenge or 2021 Wigan 10k for free, or defer their entry to next year’s festival.

Email [email protected] with your choice by January 31.

All family mile entries will be automatically transferred to the mile at the Wigan 10k.

Matt said: “These have been unprecedented and incredibly difficult times for everyone and we have been hugely humbled by your continued amazing support. Last year’s HW Moon Toyota Virtual Run Wigan Festival raised an awesome £28,000. Can we ask you one more time if you will join Jack, run 13 for 13 and make a difference this March?

“We want to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this decision and to thank all our amazing runners and supporters for standing by us during this incredibly difficult time. Please stay safe.”

Register at runwiganfestivals.co.uk.

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