Reds and Blues from a football family put aside rivalries to honour the memory of their famous grandad.
The eight youngsters ran 7.5k from Old Trafford to the Etihad Stadium, raising more than £2,000 for St Ann’s Hospice.
Their grandfather Ian Mellor, who played for Manchester City in the early Seventies, died in the hospice last year.
The family have so far raised more than £35,000 for an inpatient consultation room at a new St Ann’s Hospice opening in Heald Green, Stockport, early next year.
After the run, they enjoyed the new VR experience at City. The futuristic football journey is the first of its kind in the country.
Eliot, Theo and Albie are City fans; Noah, Zach and Molly follow United, while cousins Nicole and Harry are Liverpool fans.
Hardly surprising since their father Neil played for Liverpool, some 30 years after his dad was a professional footballer.
Ian’s wife Sue said: “The grandkids had a great time and wanted to do their bit to raise funds for St Ann’s Hospice where Ian received such great care.”
Anne-Marie Wynne, Head of Fundraising and Capital Campaign at St Ann’s Hospice, said: “It has been wonderful to see all of Ian’s grandchildren get so involved in the fundraising and following in the footsteps of their parents and the rest of the family who have already done so much for the hospice.
The money they have raised will make a huge difference for our future patients and their loved ones and we are so grateful for their support.”
The new £26 million hospice will replace the current building in Heald Green and will offer a new and modern facility for the hospice to care for people impacted by life limiting illnesses. The new building will include a 27-bed inpatient unit including individual en-suite rooms and access to private outdoor terraces. The development will also feature modern outpatient services, dedicated bereavement and family support spaces, all surrounded by beautiful, landscaped gardens.* To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/themellorgrandchildren
Find out more about the new hospice at www.sah.org.uk/newhospice