Run 1km, 5km or 10km at Ribbon Run in Manchester on Saturday 11 October 2025.

About the event

Taking place on the Saturday during Baby Loss Awareness Week, Ribbon Run is a chance to come together, raise money for Sands and run in memory of all our much loved babies. Ribbon Run is open to all and by taking part you will help Sands continue to support anyone affected by baby loss and save babies' lives. From a 1km Fun Run which the whole family can take part in to the 5km and 10km running events, there is a distance for everyone. 

Date: Saturday 11 October 2025
Time: 11am
Venue: Heaton Park, Manchester
Distance: 1km, 5km, 10km

Tickets
1km Fun Run: £10 
5km: £14
10km: £18

Register

Register today and be part of something special. Choose your distance, decide if you want to create a team and enter your details. Once signed up you will receive your Ribbon Run t-shirt pack in the post. 

Fundraise

Your fundraising page will be set up as part of your registration. You can share it with friends and family straight away and start helping Sands save babies' lives. Get a donation within 24 hours and receive pink and blue laces in your t-shirt pack

See you at the start line

See you in Heaton Park at the start line. Complete either 1km, 5km or 10km for Sands during Baby Loss Awareness Week. Finish your run and receive your bespoke Ribbon Run medal. 

Event Details

Event Distance

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5km

This could be the perfect distance for you to get back into running, to get a 5k PB or a chance to test out your couch to 5k distance. It's totally up to you and is fully chip timed.

10km

If you've already conquered the 5k or are looking for a slightly longer challenge this Autumn, the 10k distance is perfect for you.

1km Fun Run

This is a 1km route, which is accessible to all. It's the perfect distance to do with your family. This can be your main event, or it can be something to involve your family in before you take on your 5k or 10k race. The Fun Run takes place at 11am and the 5k/10k distance will start at 11.30 am. So plenty of time for both. Anyone signed up to the 5k or 10k can enter the Fun Run for free. Anyone else who wants to join such as the kids or extra friends and family, it is £10 to sign up.

Route

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The route is a fully accessible 5km loop. This is completed once by those doing the 5km distance and completed twice by those doing the 10km distance. The Fun Run is then a 1km smaller loop which is accessible and open to all ages.

Anyone signed up to the 5k or 10k can take part in the Fun Run with their family for free.

The start/finish line is same for all distances and is in the main event village (what3words ///shut.bits.couches)

What you get once you've signed up

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  • Ribbon Run t-shirt
  • Ribbon Run card of dedication
  • LED candle for the Global Wave of Light
  • Chip timed 5k and 10k running event
  • Access to a 1km Fun Run for free when signed up to the 5k or 10k race.
  • Fully marshalled route
  • Water stations
  • Bespoke Ribbon Run medal
  • Opportunity to run alongside like minded people
  • FREE access to the Fun Run if you've signed up to the 5km or 10km distance
  • The chance to win pink and blue laces, and lace tags ahead of race day

Facilities

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There are event toilets available in the event village. There are also toilets at Heaton Hall Café.

The meeting point for the event village can be found here in the centre of Heaton Park, near Heaton Hall. (what3words ///shut.bits.couches) The route is wheelchair accessible and the Fun Run is suitable for pushchairs. The event village is accessible also.

Bag Drop is available for all taking part. Refreshments are available from Heaton Hall Cafe.

Where your fundraising goes

Sands works to save babies' lives and ensure that, when a baby does die, anyone affected gets the support and care they need. By taking part in Ribbon Run this year, the money you raise will allow us to continue to fund life saving research. We will be able to continue to run our Sands Support Services which include the Sands Helpline and our Sands support groups across the UK. Because of you we can contiue our mission to be there for anyone affected by baby loss.

Shareable tiles for socials

The best way to raise funds for Sands and spread awareness of your Ribbon Run is to share it on social media. We have created some images that you can download and add to your social channels. Include the link to your fundraiser and you'll reach your fundraising target in no time.

FAQs

When is Ribbon Run

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Ribbon Run takes place in Manchester on Saturday 11 October 2025, which is during Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October 2025). There is also the virtual Ribbon Run taking place across the UK on the same day. 

When will my t-shirt arrive? 

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Every one who registers for Ribbon Run will receive a FREE Ribbon Run t-shirt pack. Packs will be sent out from July. Please allow up to 10 working days for this to arrive. Please register by 26 September for delivery before the challenge.

Registrations are open right up until Friday 11 October. However, anyone who registers after 26th September won't receive a t-shirt in time. You can however collect this on the day from the Event Village when you collect your race bib and chip. 

What do I get when I've signed up? 

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  • Ribbon Run t-shirt
  • Ribbon Run card of dedication
  • LED candle for the Global Wave of Light
  • Chip timed 5k and 10k running event
  • Fully marshalled route
  • Water stations
  • Bespoke Ribbon Run medal
  • Opportunity to run alongside like minded people
  • FREE access to the Fun Run if you've signed up to the 5km or 10km distance
  • The chance to win pink and blue laces, and lace tags ahead of race day

Baby Loss Awareness Week

Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 - 15 October) is a time for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together, to remember our much-loved and missed babies, and raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss. Join other families across the world by lighting a candle at 7pm on Wednesday15 October, the final day of Baby Loss Awarness Week, to remember all the babies' lives gone too soon.

Fundraising Checklist

If your fundraising page receives a donation within 24 hours of signing up, you will receive pink and blue laces in your T-shirt pack. 

Raise £125 by 21 September and we'll send you some Sands lace tags which read 'Always loved, never forgotten'. You can then wear them with pride on Race Day. 

Update your fundraising page with a profile picture and reason for supporting Sands.

Share your fundraising page in your whatsapp groups. One share could be worth up to £550.

£20 could provide a family with a memory box. Tell your friends and family what the money they're donating means to Sands and bereaved families across the UK.

Share your online fundraising page on your social media. 

Post updates online of your Ribbon Run. Share your post run seflie or create your own POV video of how it felt to complete your Ribbon Run. All alongisde your fundraising page link.