Words by Smiley Team
Set to take place on 3rd October 2021, the London Marathon led by Virgin Money offers a wide range of fundraising opportunities to charities. Thanks to the vaccination programme and the event going virtual, places have actually risen this year, offering an additional 1,000 charities guaranteed spots each year.
The announcement comes after London Marathon Events confirmed plans for a virtual event involving 100,000 participants in 2021, making it the largest marathon ever held. Half of the runners will participate virtually from across the globe, while the other half will participate in person on the traditional route from Blackheath to The Mall.
Event director of London Marathon Events Hugh Brasher said: “The London Marathon is the most popular marathon on the planet, with a world-record 457,861 people applying in the ballot for a place in the 2020 event, and the incredible success of the 2020 virtual event shows the huge appetite to be part of the world’s greatest marathon.
“The new 2021 virtual event for 50,000 participants offers exciting additional fundraising opportunities for our charity partners. In addition, we have brought forward our plans to increase the size of the in-person event and are planning for 50,000 participants, an increase of more than 7,000 on our previous record, which again offers big fundraising potential for charities.”
Unprecedented in its size, this year’s marathon offers charities much-needed fundraising opportunities after most have seen their donations decline in light of the international health crisis.
Brasher said: “We have been working for many years on plans to increase the London Marathon to 50,000 and the need to reallocate all the runners from the 2020 event accelerated this plan. This devastating pandemic has meant many more people are now understanding the physical and mental health benefits of being active and the new hybrid London Marathon offers greatly increased fundraising opportunities for charities.”
The organisers will contact charities about how they can request places on the event. Their deadline for applications is 4 pm on 4th February 2021 and successful applicants will hear back the next day, ahead of the public ballot results announced on 8th February. All places will be available at an entry fee of £28 (and £38 for charities outside the UK).
Applicants who don’t gain the public vote will have an exclusive window to enter the virtual London Marathon from 9th February before general entries open on 16th February.
Individuals can apply to run in the marathon by contacting charities first to see if they can offer you a place to run in the event.
