The unique 24-hour relay run is set to return to Birmingham, raising money for local homelessness charities SIFA Fireside and St Basil’s.
The event will take place from midday on Saturday 18 October to midday on Sunday 19 October, inviting runners, walkers, and supporters to join the continuous relay of 5-kilometre laps.
The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness was created by a group of students in Manchester in 2019 to raise money for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, uniting running communities and raising over £117,800 for homelessness charities across the UK.
Last year, the first Birmingham edition launched, with runners collectively covering 1,625 kilometres and raising over £1,900. This year, the organisers have set the ambitious target of raising £5,000, to be split equally between SIFA Fireside and St Basil’s.
In each city, the event supports local organisations that work to provide a bed and vital personal support for people facing a night on the streets. In Birmingham, the 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness will raise money for SIFA Fireside, a charity who provide a range of responsive homelessness support services, and St Basil’s, a youth homelessness charity who provide accommodation and support to young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness, are vulnerable or at risk.
The format is simple and inclusive: participants can join at any time during the 24-hour period to run or walk a 5km lap, led by friendly run leaders. Everyone can complete as many, or as few, laps as they like, by joining from the host venue Ethyon Cafe, on Cannon Street. The event will be supported by the University of Birmingham’s Cool Runnings as host club.
In 2025, the relay event is expanding to Sheffield, Leeds, and Hereford for the first time, as well as returning to Manchester for its seventh year.
Sharing his hopes for this year’s expansion, The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness co-founder Thomas Lewis says: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support over the years; the Manchester running community, local companies and so many other organisations have come together to make a real difference. We’re hoping to find the same response in every city.”
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