Record 386,050 apply to run in the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon
Howard Lake | 2 October 2017 | News
Did you secure a place in the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon? The results of the ballot have been announced today.
Securing a place in the event, which is the world’s largest single day fundraising event, was even harder this year. A record 386,050 people applied for a place, up nearly 29% on the 253,930 who applied for the 2017 event.
So charities will soon start to have a sense of how many runners they will have fundraising for them, for those who secured a place via the ballot. Charities with Golden Bonds of course have an additional method of attracting runners.
Just over 58% of the UK applications for 2018 were from people who have never run a marathon and more than 45% of the total UK applicants were women (also a new record).
When will runners hear?
Everyone who has won a place in the ballot will receive a confirmation letter and magazine through the post. Unsuccessful applicants will receive either a magazine or will be emailed an e-zine.
Applicants who have not received their ballot result are asked to wait until Monday 9 October before contacting the London Marathon helpdesk.
Record-breaking fundraising event
Runners in the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon raised more than £61.5 million for charity setting a new record for an annual single day charity fundraising event for the eleventh successive year. That brought the total raised for charity by the world’s greatest marathon to more than £890 million since the event was founded in 1981.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon, reminded would-be runners that there were still chances for them to run, if they fundraised for a charity.
He said: “The Virgin Money London Marathon is the most popular marathon on the planet with a world record number of people applying in the ballot for 2018. Unfortunately that means a huge number of people will be disappointed after the ballot.
“But I’d remind everyone that there is still a chance to gain a place in the 2018 race by fundraising for a charity. Charities with places available are listed on our website.”
The 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon takes place on Sunday 22 April 2018.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.