# Runners’ favourite charities revealed

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/04/26/runners-favourite-charities-revealed/
- Published: 2016-04-26T13:19:11+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The [National Trust](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/), [Help for Heroes](http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/)
and [Cancer Research UK](http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/) are the three most popular
charities among runners, according to data insight company [Starcount](http://www.starcount.com/).**

Ahead of last weekend’s London Marathon, Starcount analysed Twitter data to uncover
the charities most followed by the running community, and therefore the most likely
to raise substantial sums in the event.

Children’s charities, armed forces charities and green charities were the most popular
causes, with 44 per cent of runners following at least one children’s charity. 25
per cent follow at least one green charity and 17 per cent follow an armed forces
charity.

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On an individual basis, the data shows National Trust to be the most popular charity
with runners, followed by Help for Heroes and Cancer Research UK.

**Charity                                   % of running followers**

National Trust                            11%

Help for Heroes                         10%

Cancer Research UK                   9%

Macmillan Cancer Support         8%

British Heart Foundation             8%

Mind                                             7%

Royal British Legion                    7%

NSPCC                                         5%

WWF                                            5%

The Prince’s Trust                        5%

Clive Humby, chief data scientist at Starcount, said:

> “In this study, Starcount analysis has been able to combine data on both running
> and charity Twitter fans in order to determine not just the most popular charities,
> but those most likely to receive sponsorship specifically on the London Marathon
> weekend.”

 * **[One millionth London Marathon finisher is a hospital fundraiser](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/05/10/one-millionth-london-marathon-finisher-hospital-fundraiser/)**(
   10 May 2016)
 * **[JustGiving’s #RunningforGood hub inspires London Marathon runners to fundraise](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/02/01/justgivings-runningforgood-hub-inspires-london-marathon-runners-to-fundraise/)**(
   1 February 2017)
 * **[Fundraising stories from Virgin Money London Marathon 2017](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/04/23/fundraising-stories-virgin-money-london-marathon-2017/)**(
   23 April 2017)

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