So you’ve eaten your way through Christmas, drunk your way through New Year and now you’re ready for a fitness challenge to kick start January.
Maybe you’ve decided to run the marathon in London – one of the world’s most iconic races. You’re looking forward to the opportunity to challenge yourself and raise some money for charity at the same time.
Yet securing a marathon place can be tougher than it looks. Ballot places are announced in October and a lot of charities have already filled up their marathon teams. What next? Don’t despair! We’ve put together this list of charities who you may not have heard of who have told us they have spaces left.
Updated 14th February 2011 – places for the marathon are now closed! But subscribe to our blog to get updates on future running events.
Updated 27th January 2012
KIDS – has 3 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1500. To apply contact Gayle directly via email on gayle.kirkwood@kids.org.uk or for an informal chat on 0121 362 4576.
Rhino Ark – has 5 places left! Minimum fundraising target £750. To apply contact guy.tritton@btinternet.com.
Child Bereavement Charity – has 9 places left! Minimum fundraising target £2500 Please contact Emma Riley on 01494 568912 or emma.riley@childbereavement.org.uk to apply.
The Fire Fighters Charity – has 4 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1800 or nearest offer. To apply email lmacaulay@firefighterscharity.org.uk for a Marathon Pledge Form in support of the Fire Fighters Charity, and submit a simple fundraising plan of how you will go about reaching your target Charity figure.
Carers UK – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £2,000. To apply contact Nicola on nicola.peake@carersuk.org.
Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster) – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £1,500. To apply contact Elise Campbell-Hand on elisech@cathchild.org.uk.
St Catherine’s Hospice (Crawley) – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £1,500. Contact Jen Wickham at jenwickham@stch.org.uk or by calling 01293 447364.
The Outward Bound Trust – has 24 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1,750. Please contact Danielle Britton on 020 3301 6481 or email danielle.britton@outwardbound.org.uk.
The Children’s Society – has 6 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1,750. To apply visit http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-you-can-do/fundraising-and-appeals/events-and-activities/marathons-and-runs/virgin-london-marathon.
RFU Injured Players Foundation – has 5 places left! Minimum fundraising target £2,200. Application form on www.rfuipf.org.uk/run .
VSO –has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £1,750. Visit http://www.vso.org.uk/event/20505/virgin-london-marathon-2012.
Caudwell Children – has 6 places left! Minimum fundraising target £2,000. Please contact mary.rose@caudwellchildren.com giving full contact details or call 01782 600433 before 17th February.
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation – has 2 places left! Minimum fundraising target £2,000. Apply by contacting Rebecca Malcolm on Rebecca.Malcolm@laureus.com.
GOOD GRIEF APPEAL – has 2 places left! Minimum fundraising target £2,000. To apply ring John Taylor on 01623 625413.
Neurocare – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £1,500. To apply email emma@neurocare.org.uk.
The Migraine Trust – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £1,500. To apply an application pack via events@migrainetrust.org.
Blond McIndoe Research Foundation – has 4 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1,750. Please email debbie.finch@blondmcindoe.com or alternatively telephone 01342 414295.
Action Deafness – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £2,500. To apply email Denise Hodgson on hodgsondenise@actiondeafness.org.uk.
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £1,000. Please email natalie.archer@davidshepherd.org for an application form.
Young Epilepsy – has 4 places left! Minimum fundraising target £3000. Please email James Sommers at Young Epilepsy for an application form on jsommers@youngepilepsy.org.uk.
Make-A-Wish Foundation UK – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £2,200. To apply please email andy.holland@make-a-wish.org.uk.
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation – has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target £2,200. Contact Claire at claire.taylor@lgf.org.uk for more information, find out more about the LGF at www.lgf.org.uk.
Updated 20th January 2012
Sense – has 5 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1500! Contact events@sense.org.uk or visit www.sense.org.uk/londonmarathon for more information.
Jeans for Genes – has 3 places left. Minimum fundraising target £2,000. Please contact lina@jeansforgenes.com to apply.
John Muir Trust – has 2 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1,000. To apply email Maggie at maggie.briggs@jmt.org or call 0131 554 0114.
Henshaws Society for Blind People – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £2000! Contact Hannah.saxon@henshaws.org.uk or call 01423 814501.
FSI – has 5 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1,750. Please contact louise@thefsi.org or phone 0207 009 3543.
St John Ambulance – has 40 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1625. To apply please visit: www.sja.org.uk/vlm2012
Care for the Wild International – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £1625. Please contact nigel@careforthewild.com or call 01403 249832.
Disability Law Service – has 10 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1500.00. Visit www.dls.org.uk/marathon or email marathon@dls.org.uk we will then forward out details.
Framework – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £2,000. Please visit http://www.frameworkha.org/pages/virgin_london_marathon_2012.html
Action on Hearing Loss – has 4 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1750. To apply visit http://www.crunch.org.uk/charity.php?CharityID=51.
Leukaemia Busters – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £1,800.00. To apply contact www.leukaemiabusters.org.uk.
Task Brasil – has 10 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1000. To apply http://www.taskbrasil.org.uk/docs/LMQuestionnaire.doc.
Notting Hill Housing Trust – has 12 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1,250. To apply contact http://www.crunch.org.uk/notthill.
Hearing Link – has 2 places left. Minimum fundraising target £2,000. Contact sarah.smith@hearinglink.org to apply.
The Countryside Alliance Foundation – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £3000. Contact hester-abbatt@countryside-alliance.org or call 020 7840 9258 for more information.
Concern Universal – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £1,600. Contact annie.ransome@concern-universal.org or call 01432 355 111.
United Response – has 8 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1,500. Email mark.schueler@unitedresponse.org.uk or visit http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/london-marathon
Sparks – has 10 places left. Minimum fundraising target £2000. To apply email claire@sparks.org or visit www.sparks.org.uk.
RELATE WEST SURREY – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £1000. To apply email jill@relatewestsurrey.org.uk.
Trees for Cities – has 4 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1500. To apply email zoe@treesforcities.org.
WheelPower – British Wheelchair Sport – has 2 places left! Minimum fundraising target £2,000. If you would like to be part of the WheelPower 2012 London Marathon team and raise funds to help disabled children and adults take part in sport please email jo.hall@wheelpower.org.uk
Treloar Trust – has 2 places left! Minimum fundraising target £650. To apply email jon.colville@treloar.org.uk.
Shaw Trust – has 7 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1500. Visit www.crunch.org.uk/shawtrust for more details.
Crimestoppers – has 5 places left. Minimum fundraising target £1350. To apply email lucy.williams@crimestoppers-uk.org.
Rose Road Association – has 3 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1500. Email Beth Rogers on bethrogers@roseroad.org.uk for more information.
Herts MS Therapy Centre – has 2 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1500. Email charleneredmond@hmstc.net.
World Jewish Relief – has 2 places left. Minimum fundraising target £2,500. To apply call Emma on 0208 736 1253 or email es@wjr.org.uk.
Rett UK – has 1 place left. Minimum fundraising target £1200! Please apply by emailing stephanie.mitchell@rettuk.org with a short paragraph of why you want to run for Rett UK and your fundraising target.
Friendship Works – has 4 places left! Minimum fundraising target £3000. To APPLY NOW please visit: www.friendshipworks.org.uk/news-and-updates/run-london-marathon-2012.html.
Chickenshed – has 11 places left! Minimum fundraising target £1,800. To find out more visit http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/891/events-and-challenges/virgin-london-marathon-2012.html
Royal Free Hospital Kidney Patients – has 4 places left! Minimum fundraising target £500. Contact by rfhkpa@gmail.com with your name, address, age and reasons why the competitor would be happy to run in support of Royal Free Hospital Kidney Patients to apply.
Updated 19th January 2012:
Anthony Nolan – Has 25 places left! Minimum fundraising target: £2,012. Apply at www.anthonynolan.org/londonmarathon
Thai Children’s Trust – Has 1 place left! Minimum fundraising target: £1,500. Contact Ruth Flanagan on rflanagan@thaichildrenstrust.org.uk
Action on pre-eclampsia – Has 10 places left! Minimum fundraising target: £1,000. Email marathon@apec.org.uk for more information or register via www.apec.org.uk/marathon_form.html
The PSP Association – Has 3 places left! Minimum fundraising target: £1,600. Email marathon@pspeur.org or phone 01327 322419
Updated 17th January 2012:
Health Poverty Action works to strengthen poor and marginalised people in their struggle for health. The charity has 11 places left in the London marathon – one of them could be yours! Find out about how to run for Healthy Poverty Action.
The Child Bereavement Charity (CBC) is the UK’s leading charity that supports families and educates professionals both when a child dies and when a child is bereaved. CBC has five marathon places remaining. If you’re interested in taking one of them, email emma.riley@childbereavement.org.uk.
Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the leading UK charity focusing on all muscle disease. It’s dedicated to improving the lives of all babies, children and adults affected by muscle disease. Apply to fill one of the charity’s three marathon spots today.
Action Deafness works with deaf, hard of hearing, deafened and deafblind children, young people, adults and older people across Leicestershire and the East Midlands. The charity has places available for this year’s marathons in Silverstone, Edinburgh and London. To apply, contact denisehodgson@actiondeafness.org.uk.
LOOK helps blind children and their families by listening, offering hope and finding new and creative ways to improve confidence and chances in life. The charity still has a few marathon places left, so if you’d like one give them a call on 0121 4285038 or email jane@look-uk.org.
Updated 7th February 2012:
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation - has 1 place. Minimum fundraising target £2,000. Contact Claire at claire.taylor@lgf.org.uk for more information, find out more about the LGF at www.lgf.org.uk
Excalibur Unit – Supporting Our Heroes - have 100 places! Email info@excaliburunit.org.uk. Find more information at www.excaliburunit.org.uk
The Attlee Foundation – has 4 places. Miniumum fundraising target £1,500. Email azra.hussain@attleeycc.org.uk or call 020 7375 3212.
Find your feet - has 1 place. Minimum fundraising target £1,550. Visit their website www.find-your-feet.org/run/for information or email fundraise@fyf.org.uk for an application.
National Osteoporosis Society - has 5 places. Mimimum fundraising target £1,700. Please email k.kew@nos.org.uk or call 01761473141.
Abbeyfield Society - has 2 places. Minimum fundraising target £1,800. Email events@abbeyfield.com for an application.
UK stem cell foundation - has 3 places. £2,000 minimum fundraising target. Contact Lil Shortland before 10 February 2012 to register for the Virgin London Marathon on lil.shortland@ukscf.org
Rock FM and Magic 999′s Cash for Kids – has 5 places with a minimum fundraising target of £1,500. Email Cash for Kids directly to charity@rockfm.co.uk for details on places and the charity.
Esperanza - email clairejsmith@talk21.com for more information.
Brain and Spine Foundation – have 1 place. Minimum fundraising target of £1,800. Email alex.lines-scrase@brainandspine.org.uk for more information
We’ll do our best to keep this information accurate but if you’re a charity with places to spare, or if the information above is now out of date, please let us know by filling in this form.
Tags: Charity, London Marathon, VLM