Liz McClarnon is challenging the people of Southport to dust off their running shoes, don their scarves and gloves and take part in Wrap up and Run, a brand new 10k run through the heart of the town on Sunday 4^th March 2012, organised by Age UK.

With Christmas well and truly behind us and summer still a distant prospect, training for the run is a fantastic way to shake off the New Year blues and drop those excess festive pounds. And for those with resolutions to get fit, the event is a great incentive to get off the sofa and get started – whether you’d like to walk, run or participate with your whole family.

The route, which is equivalent to around six miles, will start at Victoria Gardens in Southport and will include the picturesque park, lake and seafront. Wrap up and Run only costs £14.95 to enter, with all of the proceeds going to Age UK to help make later life better for everyone.

Liz McClarnon, TV presenter and former Atomic Kitten from Liverpool, is backing the running event. She said: “We all know that January and February can be tough to tackle after all the fun of the holidays, so why not brighten it up by giving yourself the challenge of taking part in the Wrap up and Run event in Southport? The event is open to people of all abilities and the money raised will make a huge difference to people in later life.”

Money raised from the run will go towards the charity’s Spread the Warmth campaign, which aims to make winter warmer for 360,000 older people this winter by providing information, advice and practical services to help keep warm and well in the colder winter months, preventing many thousands from being left isolated and alone. Money will also go to Age UK Lancashire to help fund vital services such as information and advice, visiting and befriending, day care, housing support, help in the home as well as campaigning on behalf of older people about national and local issues which matter.

Age UK is also challenging every runner to raise at least £50 on 4^th March. Handy tips on how to meet the target include:

Fundraising tips

1 – Ask ten friends to sponsor you £5. Use an online fundraising site such as www.virginmoneygiving.com to set up your own page and email it to your friends, letting them know how their donation will help

2. Host a dinner for five friends asking them each to donate £10 each. Ask your local shops or supermarket to donate something for the meal like a bottle of wine or a dessert

3. Challenge 30 people to guess your finishing time at www.guess2give.com. They will have a chance to win as 50p from each donation goes into a prize pot

What can the money buy?

• £50 buys a heater to keep an older person warm through the winter months. £50 also buys hot meals at a day centre for 16 people
• £20 buys two thermal mugs for warm drinks; an emergency food pack and hats and gloves for four people
• £12 buys a home visit to check energy efficiency and insulation; a thick blanket and a sociable hot meal for four people at a lunch club
• £5 buys cosy bed socks or a hot-water bottle; emergency help in cold weather and a visit from a befriender.

To sign up to the race go to www.ageuk.org.uk/10k or for further information, contact the Age UK 10k team at 10k@ageuk.org.uk or call 0800 169 8787.

“Liz McClarnon was brilliant as down-on-her-luck Paulette, making the audience hold their sides as she delivered classic one-liners and stunning vocals.”

Sunderland Echo

“Liz McClarnon who plays Elle’s gal pal Paulette, has a killer pair of lungs on her.”

News Guardian

“The postie is the love-interest of hairdresser Paulette, played to perfection by former Atomic Kitten Liz McCLarnon. Her kooky character was a clear winner”

Newcasle Eveneing Chronicle

“Liz McClarnon was brilliant as down-on-her-luck Paulette, making the audience hold their sides as she delivered classic one-liners and stunning vocal”

Street North East

“Liz McCLarnon was a favourite performance of mine. Excellent characterisation and impecable comic timing had us howling (and I mean howling, the poor people next to us must have been terrified)”

107 Spark FM

Liz is back in her role as Paulette in the hit production of Legally Blonde at Sunderland Empire this Christmas, so what better way to get into the festive spirit than getting the twinkly lights all-a-sparkling!

The Galleries is one of Sunderland’s main shopping centres/areas in Sunderland, so make sure you join in the Galleries’ festive fun the  for the big switch-on on 8th December around 5pm.

Visit the Galleries’ website for more information.

Don’t miss Antony when he joins the panel on Mathew Wright’s morning discussion show The Wright Stuff, on Channel 5 on 28th November.

Link: The Wright Suff at Channel5.com

Liz in Legally Blonde, Credit: Johan Persson

Liz visited Sunderland earlier this week to tell the North East the exciting news, read more about it at SunderlandEcho.com

Tickets are on sale now direct for the Sunderland Empire’s website