About
The Purplewave, an initiative by the UoM Sport, is all about building community connections through physical activity and shared experiences. It’s not about being the best or achieving elite performance—it’s about having fun, staying active, and connecting with others who share your enthusiasm.
Participants can join various events throughout the year, with the freedom to take part in as many as they’d like. Wearing a Purplewave T-shirt is encouraged to show solidarity and support. For those interested in fundraising, UoM provides guidance and resources to help you reach your goals.
Purplewave is also part of Challenge Accepted – the University’s first ever major global fundraising and volunteering campaign. Through Purplewave 2026, participants taking part in the Great Manchester Run 10k can fundraise in support of The University of Manchester, helping to deliver real-world change. For the first time ever, Purplewave fundraisers can direct their support to any cause they care about at the University – from student inclusion and success, to research with purpose, innovation and enterprise, or culture and community. If it happens at Manchester, participants can choose to fundraise for it. Whether it’s climate change, inequity or health, Purplewave fundraisers are invited to back Manchester to rise to the challenges of the moment that demand action.
For those who would prefer a focused cause to support, Purplewave 2026 also offers the opportunity to support the University’s brain cancer research. Fundraisers will support researchers at Manchester to drive breakthroughs, accelerate new treatments and bring hope to families everywhere. They will help power vital research into brain cancer – a disease that takes more children’s lives than any other cancer – and support Manchester’s ambition to extend lives and change what’s possible for patients.
Purplewave series 2026
10-year anniversary!
Purplewave Spring Dash – 4 March, 2026
Choose between a 2.5k or 5k run, walk, or jog around Platt Fields Park. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just out to enjoy the fresh spring air, this event is for everyone. For those who want to track their performance, a race timing system will be in place—perfect to see how you’re doing! This is the ideal prep for the Purplewave Great Manchester Run 10k happening in May 2026.
Tickets are £5 to take part and £10 if you would like one of the sought-after Purplewave T-shirts.
Purplewave Great Manchester Run 10k – 31 May, 2026
The Main Event of the series! The Purplewave is UoM Sport’s annual participation event, bringing together students, staff and alumni, to run walk or jog the Great Manchester 10k event. Each runner receives a Purplewave t-shirt as part of their entry.
Tickets for students and staff of the University of Manchester – subsidised by UoM Sport – cost £25. Tickets are limited, so don’t miss out!
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive regular communication from the sport department to keep you up to date with all Purplewave information.
*If friends and family wish to run, they will need to purchase a full price ticket from Great Run, and then request transfer into the wave on this form.
Free fundraising option:
- Fundraising places are ideal for those who want to take on the Purplewave challenge, secure a free place in the Great Manchester Run 10k, and make a bigger impact through their fundraising; in support of either Manchester’s brain cancer research or the Manchester cause that matters most to you.
- Fundraising places are open to students, staff, alumni and friends, and will be allocated once a minimum fundraising target of £100 has been raised by the end of the day on Thursday, 23 April 2026.
- If you would like to fundraise, do not purchase a ticket. Instead, secure your free fundraising place HERE.
Event photographs
Event highlights
If you need more information about any aspects of our events please email us at purplewave@manchester.ac.uk
More Info
WHEELCHAIR ENTRIES
- I am a wheelchair entrant can I enter a Great Run event?
- Unless stated otherwise on the event webpage, all Great Run events are suitable for wheelchair users. There will be a question on the entry form that asks if you are a wheelchair user and if you will be participating in a self-propelled racing wheelchair, or if you will be participating in a standard wheelchair and will be assisted (pushed).
- I am taking part in an assisted wheelchair, what do I do?
- For those who are an assisted (pushed) wheelchair entrant, both the wheelchair entrant and the assistant (pusher) will need to be registered to take part in the event.
- We can offer the assistant (pusher) a complimentary entry. Once the wheelchair entrant has secured their own entry, please contact us through our Support System to provide the name and contact email address for the guide so we can email them a complimentary online entry form to complete.
- Once entered the event, both will be sent a race number/timing chip prior to the event weekend and will be asked to line up towards the rear of the field in their allocated zone colour.
- I am taking part in a self-propelled wheelchair, what do I do?
- There will be a question on the entry form that asks if you are a wheelchair user and if you are a self-propelled wheelchair entrant or an assisted (pushed) wheelchair entrant.
- The events are staged under IPC rules and self-propelled wheelchair athletes must confirm to BWRA minimal classification race system. It is strongly recommended that only experienced wheelchair users attempt the course unaided.
TRAINING AND SUPPORT
- I AM NEW TO RUNNING WHAT SUPPORT CAN I GET FROM THE UNIVERSITY?
- The university has a number of running groups offered by UMRUN and Run Wild Find out about our running groups here
- These include sessions for beginners – It may be useful to contact the session leader to confirm your attendance and chat through your needs. If you are unsure you can get advice by emailing umrun@manchester.ac.uk
- I WOULD LIKE TO WALK THE EVENT – IS THAT POSSIBLE?
- Yes that is fine – run, walk , jog or wheel it is up to you
- we are looking for leaders to start up the lunch time Strollers group to get walkers meeting up and training together – if you are interested in this please email purplewave@manchester,.ac.uk with the subject title : ‘Joining the Strollers’
- I HAVE A DISABILITY WHICH LIMITS MY MOBILITY – CAN I STILL TAKE PART?
- We are currently working with the Staff disability support network to see how we can support those who may want to ‘wheel’ around the event
- If you have experience or taking part of events in this way or if you would like to be part of a group of ‘wheelers’ in the Purplewave please email us at purplewave@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title ‘PW Wheelers’
- ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY THE UNIVERSITY WHICH MAY HELP ME TO GET FIT FOR THE EVENT?
- The UoM sport office offers a whole range of different programmes and activities which can help you prepare your mind and body for the event. Information about free activities in Sporticipate and paid activities from Active Manchester, such as pilates, yoga, cardio fitness, can be found on the UoM Sport Website.
Our A to Zs
Sport A to Z
View our A to Z of all the sports that we offer at Manchester.
Activities A to Z
Take a look at all the activities we offer to get you more active at Manchester.
Contact Us
+44 (0)161 529 4444
sport@manchester.ac.uk
