Individual runners in the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon set yet another record figure for charity fundraising for good causes by generating £53.2 million. The average amount raised by every London Marathon Golden Bond charity runner was £2,407.
It is the eighth consecutive year that London Marathon entrants have broken the Guinness World Record for the largest annual single-day charity
fundraising event worldwide.
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There were 35,868 London Marathon finishers on Sunday 13 April 2014, with the number of runners raising money for charity increasing by two per cent on 2013, with 77 per cent of these runners raising money for good causes. The total who have completed the race, since it started 34 years ago now stands at 924,741 runners. .
Virgin Money London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher said: “We are extremely pleased to reach the quarter of a billion pound figure in only five years with our partnership with Virgin Money, and especially delighted that this year’s amazing London Marathon runners have, once again, raised a record-breaking amount of money for charity.
Our official charity of the year, Anthony Nolan raised over £1.3 million, smashing their own target of £1.1 million. It was a pleasure to support this exciting and lifesaving charity in its fortieth anniversary year, and to welcome its biggest team of runners yet. Anthony Nolan’s passionate supporters who lined the streets of London carried people around the route, and summed up the uplifting spirit of marathon day”.
Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson said: "When Virgin first got involved with the London Marathon we set the bar high and challenged runners to not only complete their 26 miles, but within five years also help raise £¼ billion for good causes. Today's news shows that not only have we all risen to that challenge, but during the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon we smashed right through it.
“Lots of charity runners raise their money through Virgin Money Giving, our not-for-profit fundraising website. Over £77m has been raised to date by Marathon fundraisers using Virgin Money Giving, and long may they continue to do so."
The last five, of eight record years of charity fundraising:
2010 £50.6 million
2011 £51.8 million
2012 £52.8 million
2013 £53.0 million
2014 £53.2 million
The 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon is on Sunday 26 April 2015,
and the official charity will be Cancer Research UK. http://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/charity/official-charity