Emelone Ijeoma

If there’s one person you can expect to see front and centre on the start line at the Great Manchester Run, leading the ’NHS Blue Wave’, it’s Emelone Ijeoma – (Flo).

Flo has been a committed GMR devotee from the very beginning of our charity’s involvement with the event, and it’s a personal mission of hers to get more people involved in what she describes as one of her “favourite days of the year.”

Flo, an Event and Facilities Receptionist in the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Centres on the MFT Oxford Road campus, as well as a Trust Governor, chairing the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Network, first took part in GMR in 2018 and has been a passionate champion of the event ever since, encouraging the people of Manchester (and beyond) to join her at the start line and raise money for our family of hospitals.

“I first got involved with GMR as a volunteer and seeing how special the event was inspired me to join the runners as part of the NHS Blue Wave, which sees hundreds of NHS staff members from across Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) hospitals running together,” Flo says.

“Watching from the sidelines was inspiring and around that time I was diagnosed with diabetes. I knew I needed to start moving my body, so I began jogging and walking.”

One of Flo’s favourite memories from the event was being given the opportunity, alongside MFT Chair Kathy Cowell OBE DL and Trust chaplain Agatha Ngambi to represent MFT by standing on the platform and ringing the opening bell to start the race. “That was the most amazing time,” she says.

“The best part of the event is coming together with friends and colleagues to make a difference – I love recruiting people because I want more people to experience that joy.

“When you fundraise at GMR you are supporting projects that can make a real and lasting difference in our hospitals. Every step you take, and every milestone you clock

up, helps to save and change lives. The impact fundraising can have is huge and as staff we see if first hand.

“We have so many staff at MFT – almost 30,000, and I feel they should all take part because they’re missing out on so much if they don’t! It’s such a great opportunity to support our hospitals, whether you’re running or walking, raising £10 or £1000, every single penny counts. Let’s come out, have fun and do our bit!”

With charity incentives and plenty of time to begin training, Flo says that everyone, whether a seasoned runner or a person looking to up their steps, should sign up and raise some money as part of a magical day in the city.

“It’s once a year and it’s so much fun. It’s all about our wellbeing and looking out for each other. There’s no competition here, there’s no comparison. Come out, walk, run, jog, take part in your wheelchair, it’s about coming together and having fun in the name of fundraising.”