Firefighter aims to raise £10K with running challenge to help victims' families of Manchester Arena bombing

The families of two teenagers killed in the Manchester Arena bomb attack have praised a firefighter who is running a 10k race for each of the 22 people who lost their lives.
By Ian Hirst
Published 28th Feb 2019, 10:00 BST
Updated 3rd Mar 2019, 10:17 BST
Aaron Parmar is running 22 10k challenges for each of the victims of the Manchester terror attackAaron Parmar is running 22 10k challenges for each of the victims of the Manchester terror attack
Aaron Parmar is running 22 10k challenges for each of the victims of the Manchester terror attack

Aaron Parmar will be taking part in his second race in honour of Chloe Rutherford, 17 and Liam Curry, 19, from South Tyneside, when he hits the road on April 14.

The Flatcap 10k run, which is being made possible thanks to Sowerby Bridge Snails Running Club, is being made even more special for the families, as it will set off from Sowerby Bridge Cricket Club, in West Yorkshire.

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Cricket was a sport loved by Liam, who was a gifted crickter, while Chloe was a talented performer.

Mr Parmar, 33, from Rochdale, in Manchester, will have completed his 15th 10k run tomorrow, in a race he has dedicated to Jane Tweddle, who was originally from Hartlepool. The run for Chloe and Liam will be Mr Parmar’s 19th event.

Once all 22 runs have been completed, he aims to have each of the race medals engraved with the name to which he dedicated the run. These will then be presented to the families.Mr Parmar decided to run two events for the couple rather than one for each, after reading how the couple were inseparable.

Speaking on behalf for the two families, Liam’s mam Caroline Curry said: “There are no words to describe how proud we are of Aaron and what he is doing for the families.

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“In the midst of everything that is going on, he is helping to keep the names of our 22 angels out there.

“What he is doing is from the heart, and the fact his second run for Chloe and Liam is setting off from a cricket club makes the event even more special to us.”

Mr Parmar, a police officer on the night of the attack before changing career to become a firefighter, is also hoping to raise £10,000 in the run-up to his final event, which will be the Manchester 10k in May.

Already £6,000 has been handed over to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund to help with the aftercare of those injured on the night, with the remaining going to the Memorial Fund.

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He said: “I had hoped to find a race in the North East which would fit in around my shifts, but for the two I found, I was working.

“Everything is going really well and the support I’m receiving is unreal.”

To sponsor Aaron, click here

Related topics:Liam CurryChloe RutherfordCricket