The Flora London Marathon is generally accepted to be the biggest one-day fundraising event in the UK, raising something in the region of £50million for tens of thousands of good causes every year.
46,500 people are accepted to run each Flora London Marathon, although roughly twice that many apply. If you’re one of the lucky ones who already has a guaranteed place but you haven’t already signed up to run for a charity, FLM's official charity for 2009 The Children’s Trust would love to hear from you.
The Children’s Trust
The Children's Trust is a national charity based in Tadworth, Surrey, which provides care, education and therapy for children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs, and rehabilitation services to children with an acquired brain injury. The Trust’s latest appeal, as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations in 2009, will help more children from across the UK to access the specialist services it provides.
For 2009, The Children’s Trust have set themselves the challenge of attracting 1,000 individuals to run the Flora London Marathon on their behalf – and they’re almost there. Could you be the runner that makes the difference?
“Monster Month”
It’s not for nothing that March is known as “The Monster Month” by marathon runners in training. As the training miles mount and April 26 gets nearer and nearer, many first-time runners – particularly those who are going it alone - find their resolution being tested to the extreme. It’s now more than ever that willpower begins to crumble and niggling doubts start to creep in.
So why face that starting line alone? If you do decide to run for The Children’s Trust this year, you’ll be in distinguished company. The Trust’s "Yellow Submarine” which will be launching with a crew of four fully-costumed “Beatles” is guaranteed to be one of the visual highlights of this year’s race. What’s more, the Trust has attracted several well-known celebrities, including GMTV presenters, Jenni Falconer and Priya Kaur-Jones; celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo; Mark Griffin (most popularly known as ‘Trojan’ from Gladiators); actresses Lucy Speed and Lucy Evans; celebrity milliner and panel judge in the next series of ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’ Louis Mariette, and Sally Kettle, the first woman to row the Atlantic twice!
But The Children’s Trust promises that it’s not just the stars who’ll be receiving the celebrity treatment – each and every runner will receive a fundraising and training pack, support on the day from its “cheering posts” a post-race reception with celebration for family and friends, that all-important post-race massage and lots more.
Good company
BBC Children’s presenter Nat Roni is one of the well-known faces making the decision to support the Children’s Trust this year. As presenter on CBeebies “Boogie Beebies”, she’s no stranger to keeping fit, although this is her first London marathon. You can read an interview with Nat and why she decided to support the work of The Children’s Trust on our “My Fundraising” pages here.
How to register
If you have you have secured a place in this year’s Flora London Marathon and wish to join a big, big team, follow the links on The Children’s Trust London Marathon micro-site today – www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/londonmarathon - or call 01737 365018.
