# Realbuzz raises over £3mn for charities in first year as Tokyo Marathon partner

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/08/13/realbuzz-raises-over-3mn-for-charities-in-first-year-as-tokyo-marathon-partner/
- Published: 2026-08-13T14:17:04+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Charity running specialist realbuzz has raised £3,048,741 for charities worldwide
in its first year as the official international charity partner of the Tokyo Marathon.**

The milestone follows a multi-year partnership signed in 2024 between realbuzz and
the Tokyo Marathon Foundation, which for the first time opened the event’s charity
programme to international causes. The Tokyo Marathon, one of the six Abbott World
Marathon Majors, takes place each March and attracts tens of thousands of runners
from around the world.

Appointed to deliver the international charity programme realbuzz was responsible
for recruiting runners, onboarding charity partners and managing the fundraising
experience. The programme brought together an international community of participants
supporting more than 100 international charities from around the world.

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**Nick Hollowood**, CCO of [realbuzz](https://www.realbuzz.com/), described Tokyo
as “one of the most coveted races in the world” and said the ambition to run there
had translated directly into fundraising impact. He added that more than 100 charities
now had a foothold in one of the world’s great marathons. He described the result
as “just the beginning.”

**Tadaaki Hayano**, chairman and chief executive of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation,
said the event had always been international in character and that welcoming more
global participants was central to its vision for the future. He described the partnership
as a meaningful step in that direction.

![Tokyo Marathon 2026. ©TOKYO MARATHON](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/
08/©TOKYO-MARATHON-FOUNDATION.png)

Tokyo Marathon 2026. ©TOKYO MARATHON

Realbuzz said the result underlines the growing role of international charity programmes
within major mass-participation events. It highlighted the opportunity of strong
global demand for charity places, the value of structured and fully supported fundraising
journeys, and the potential to scale charity participation beyond domestic markets.
For charities, it argued, the programme opened access to new global audiences and
potentially high-value fundraising opportunities.

![Tokyo Marathon 2026. ©TOKYO MARATHON](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/
08/©TOKYO-MARATHON-FOUNDATION-3.png)

Tokyo Marathon 2026. ©TOKYO MARATHON

Realbuzz has provided charity running programmes for more than 20 years, partnering
with events worldwide. The Tokyo Marathon Foundation was established in 2010 to 
promote public health and the city of Tokyo through running.

![Tokyo Marathon 2026. ©TOKYO MARATHON](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/
08/©TOKYO-MARATHON-FOUNDATION-1.png)

Tokyo Marathon 2026. ©TOKYO MARATHON

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