Taking part in the Flora London Marathon is a big commitment, particularly when you are running for a charity and have to fundraise as well as training.
The marathon is also a big commitment for us as we have 250 Gold Bond or guaranteed places available each year, which makes Asthma UK one of the 20 largest charity teams for the London Marathon.
Each year we receive three times as many applications than we have places, and our marathon coordinator, Francine Heggie, has been busily sifting through over 2,000 enquiries and applications, on top of all the other preparations in the build up to the big day.
It’s fantastic that so many people want to run for us, but a real shame that we cannot offer every applicant the opportunity to run for Asthma UK.
We also recruit around 120 runners who have secured their own place through the race ballot, which adds up to a team of 350 Asthma UK supporters in lime-green vests, raising an astonishing £450,000 for Asthma UK. If you’re going to the Marathon and happen to see one, please give them a cheer.
People run for Asthma UK for many reasons. Almost half of this year’s team has asthma, but refuse to let it stop them taking on a challenge. The rest have a connection to asthma through family, friends or work, in the case of healthcare professionals.
This year Asthma UK’s Marketing Director, Richard Donaldson, is running in a yet-to-be-chosen costume. As part of his fundraising plans Richard is attempting to beat the Guinness World Record for the Tube Challenge, in which people travel around the London Underground network in one day, receiving sponsorship for each of the 269 stations visited.
If you’re taking part in this year’s marathon we’d like to hear from you. Simply reply to this post and tell us what inspired you to take part. Or maybe you have some costume suggestions for Richard, or tips for his Tube Challenge...
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