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Mass fundraising events return to England

The Mall, London, packed with Virgin Money London Marathon runners
Photo: Thomas Lovelock

Popular mass participation fundraising events on closed roads can now return to England to help charities to raise funds.

The Mass Participations Sports Organisers (MSO) welcomed the government’s confirmation that England will move on 19 July into step 4 of removing restrictions placed on the population when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

That is one day ahead of the first of their members’ events this year.

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The organisers of the major events including the London Marathon, parkrun, the Great North Run, Brighton Marathon, the ASICS London 10K, London Landmarks Half Marathon, The Vitality Big Half, Manchester Marathon and This Mum Runs, have been working together to plan protocols that will “ensure the safe return of mass participation events outdoors”.

World Record attempt by a runner in a postbox costume at the finish line after completing The Virgin Money London Marathon, 28 April 2019. Photo: Thomas Lovelock for Virgin Money London Marathon


Mass Participation Sports Organisers

The MSO was formed in 2019 to work together to create and introduce sustainable practices in mass participation sports events in the UKMSO. Its members include Cancer Research UK, ChampionChip Ireland, Goldline Events, Grounded Events, GSi Events, Human Race, LimeLight Sports, London Landmarks Half Marathon, London Marathon Events, parkrun, Run 4 Wales, Running High Events, RunThrough Events, The Great Run Company, This Mum Runs and Threshold Sports.

It has been working with Run Britain, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and Sport England on the protocols that will ensure these mass participation outdoor events can go ahead this year. 

SEE ALSO: Race for Life events to return in 2021 (22 June 2021)

Nick Pearson, CEO of parkrun Global, said:

“The work of MSO has ensured our much-loved events can return and we invite everyone to take part – join your local parkrun, enter one of the nation’s iconic events and think about raising funds for the charity of your choice. We can’t wait to welcome back our parkrun family on 24 July.”

Events in 2020

The Standard Chartered Great City Race, a corporate 5K challenge that takes place in the City of London, will be the first event to be held on closed roads in the capital since the pandemic hit in March 2020.

MSO member events coming up this year include:

20 July: Standard Chartered Great City Race 

21 July: return of This Mum Runs community runs

24 July: return of parkrun in England

25 July: ASICS London 10K

1 August: London Landmarks Half Marathon

8 August: return Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and Pretty Muddy events

22 August: The Vitality Big Half

5 September: London Summer Run

12 September: Great North Run

12 September: Brighton Marathon

26 September: Hackney Half

3 October: Virgin Money London Marathon

10 October: Royal Parks Half Marathon

10 October: Manchester Marathon

17 October: Oxford Half

Kerry Monaghan celebrates as she appraoches the finish line on The Mall at the end of The Virgin Money London Marathon, 28 April 2019. Photo: Thomas Lovelock for Virgin Money London Marathon


Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: 

“It is wonderful to confirm that our great mass participation events are returning across the country. Extensive scientific research worldwide has shown that the risk of transmission of Covid-19 outdoors is negligible. The UK’s event organisers have worked together to ensure the safe return of mass participation sports events outdoors by participating in the government’s Events Research Programme and collaborating on a range of protocols that ensure our events will be safe and Covid-secure.”

Runners at the finish line after completing the marathon. The Virgin Money London Marathon, 28 April 2019. Photo: Thomas Lovelock for Virgin Money London Marathon

Paul Foster, CEO of the Great Run Company, emphasised the value to charities of mass participation events, saying: 

“Our events inspire people of all ages and abilities to get active, which is so important for both physical and mental health. Participants in the MSO’s calendar of events generate more than £250 million every year for charities and these funds are so desperately needed now, as the services of charities are vital to support vulnerable members of society.”


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