The London Marathon Charitable Trust

Since 1981, the London Marathon has been an extraordinary force for good, inspiring millions of people like you to participate in physical activity. 

Runners in the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon raised a record-breaking £66.4 million for charities of their choice, taking the total amount raised by participants in the event to more than £1 billion since 1981.

But did you know that after costs, 100 per cent of the annual surplus of the Virgin Money London Marathon (and all other events organised by London Marathon Events Ltd, such as The Big Half) is gifted to The London Marathon Charitable Trust, which then awards grants to recreational projects in London and across the UK?

This year The Trust is celebrating its historic 40th anniversary and over the past four decades, it has awarded more than £93 million to more than 1,470 projects which inspire activity across the UK.

That means when you enter the greatest marathon in the world, you are not just benefiting your own health, you are also contributing to the health and wellbeing of the nation.

Improving health and wellbeing

Our founders Chris Brasher and John Disley, both Olympic 3,000m steeplechase medallists, were passionate about helping to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

When they created the London Marathon in 1981, one of their six founding aims was to raise money for sport and recreational facilities in London.

Their vision was that the profits from the event should go to charity, so they created The London Marathon Charitable Trust to distribute those profits, which now go far beyond just London.

To give you an idea of just how far The Trust has come, after the first marathon in 1981, it was able to award grants to seven London projects, each for £1,500. By comparison, in 2019 - the last full year before the pandemic – The Trust awarded £8 million to 103 projects up and down the UK.

The Trust’s ambition is to inspire activity and its vision is a society in which everyone is physically active, contributing to their health and wellbeing. And the grants it has awarded demonstrate this with 55 sports and activities receiving funding since 1981, ranging from athletics to archery and swimming to skateboarding.

Apply for a grant

You can find out more about The London Marathon Charitable Trust, its mission, some of the projects it has funded and how your sports club or project can apply for a grant by visiting The Trust’s website.