Country Life In The City

The London Marathon will have raised over half a billion pounds for charity in the 30 years it has been held.

Its 36,000 runners will be part of the largest annual one day fundraising event in the world, expected to raise around £50 million on April 25th this year.

The London Marathon Charitable Trust (LMCT) has helped over 850 projects since 1981 including £3.5 million to 59 projects in 29 London boroughs and two cross-London schemes, ranging in value from £750 for a short mat bowling carpet in Bromley to £250,000 for a new sports hall in Redbridge.

Camden Community Football and Sports Association has been awarded £700,000 to buy Chase Lodge Sports ground and turn it into a municipal site with full sized football pitches, a new clubhouse and gym and training facilities for youth football. It is the sixth set of playing fields the LMCT has helped to save in the last eight years.

The London Marathon has also made a charitable donation to install an artificial cricket wicket in Bexley and a climbing wall in Greenwich, designed to be used by those who are disabled or have special needs as well.