Press Release - London Marathon - 9/18/13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
     
      London Marathon Runners Continue Record-Breaking Charity Haul

Runners in the 2013 Virgin London Marathon set yet another record figure 
for charity fund raising with £53 million being raised for good causes at 
this year's race.

It is the seventh consecutive year that London Marathon entrants have 
broken the Guinness World Record for charity fund raising at a single 
annual event worldwide and brings the total raised for hundreds of 
charitable causes since the race began in 1981 to more than £663 million.

The average raised by every London Marathon Golden Bond charity runner 
increased to £2,535 – up from £2,345 in 2012 and the second highest amount 
in the history of the event.

There were 34,278 London Marathon finishers on Sunday 21 April 2013, with 
75 per cent of these runners raising money for good causes and bringing the 
total to 888,873 runners who have now completed the race, since it started 
32 years ago.

Virgin Money London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher said: "We are 
delighted that this year's amazing London Marathon runners have, once 
again, raised a record-breaking amount of money for charity.

"This impressive achievement is testament to the enthusiasm and dedication 
of our runners. To raise this record-breaking amount in the current 
economic environment, at the same time as achieving their own marathon 
goals, shows that London Marathon finishers are among the most committed 
runners in the world."

Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson said: "Our aim has always been to help 
Virgin Money London Marathon runners smash the £¼ billion fundraising 
target over five years and today's news shows we are in touching distance.

"Virgin Money Giving, our not-for-profit fundraising website, has made a 
big contribution towards hitting that target with over £60m raised for the 
London Marathon since its launch. It is fantastic that, despite challenging 
economic times, we've continued to see such phenomenal fundraiser 
commitment and generosity."

Seven record years of charity fundraising:

2007	£46.5 million
2008	£46.7 million
2009	£47.2 million
2010	£50.6 million
2011	£51.8 million
2012	£52.8 million
2013	£53.0 million
 
The 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon is on Sunday 13 April 2014, and the o
fficial charity will be Anthony Nolan: www.milebymile.org 

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