Macmillan Forecasts Record-Breaking Year at 2016 Vitality Bath Half Marathon

Macmillan Cancer Support, lead charity for the 2016 Vitality Bath Half Marathon, is looking forward to a record-breaking year as they have hit the 1,300 runner mark for the 2016 race on 13th March.

Macmillan has seen a phenomenal response of runners wanting to be part of Team Macmillan, and having 1,300 people run and fundraise means that this is the charities biggest ever team in the Bath Half. 

Macmillan has raised over £408,065 at the Bath Half Marathon since 2009. The money raised has helped to support the Macmillan Cancer Nurse Specialists based at the Bath RUH, along with the hospital’s Macmillan Cancer Information Centre and Information and Support Service Manager and the refurbishment of the oncology waiting room, information centre and urology quiet room. Other Macmillan services which benefit people in Bath, Somerset and the rest of the UK include Macmillan’s free phone support service, benefits advisors, cancer information leaflets and financial grants to help with the cost of living with cancer.

In Bath and North East Somerset 983 people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and in 2014 a total of £1.7m was committed to Macmillan services in Bristol, Bath and Somerset. Running for Team Macmillan will ensure that Macmillan can continue to provide the services to the people that need them.

George Harding, who runs the Bath Half every year, has been a dedicated volunteer and prolific fundraiser for Macmillan for many years. George lost his wife to cancer and fully understands the need for Macmillan’s services, which continues to spur him on and is the reason why he has undertaken over 40 challenges over the last 18 years. Running the Vitality Bath Half Marathon to celebrate his 80th birthday, George, who carried the Olympic Torch through Bath in 2012, will be an inspiration to many and is looking to raise as much money as possible.

Kaeti Morrison, Fundraising Manager - Bath & North Somerset, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we will have over 1,300 runners taking part in the 2016 Vitality Bath Half Marathon. This is our biggest number ever and we are very grateful to runners like George who show their support year after year, and we are looking forward to welcoming lots of new runners to the team in 2016.

“Our official charity places are nearly all allocated so act fast to avoid disappointment! We would also love to welcome more own place runners to Team Macmillan who want to be part of something bigger. You’ll have the run of a lifetime with the highest level of support, including a fundraising and training pack and the best support on race day with our renowned cheer-points, hospitality tent and a well deserved massage after the run. But more importantly with every step you will help Macmillan change the lives of people affected by cancer for the better now and far into the future.

“Please get in touch with the events team by email [email protected] , phone us on 0207 840 7878 or go to www.macmillan.org.uk/bathhalf for further details.”

Mel Taylor, Charity and Creative Director and Co-Founder of Running High Events, commented: “We are excited to hear that Macmillan has reached the 1,300 runner mark, which is an amazing achievement.

“Following the recent announcement of record fundraising figures for the 2015 race we are proud to provide a great fundraising platform for charities of all sizes. The Vitality Bath Half Marathon is the largest single day charity fundraising running event in the South West and amongst the top three road races in the UK, and we would like to thank everyone who keeps supporting the Bath Half and our amazing charities.”

The Vitality Bath Half Marathon is one of the most iconic and longest established races on the running calendar. Entries for the Vitality Bath Half Marathon on Sunday 13th March 2016 are currently still open but the organisers have advised that public places will sell out by the end of this week.

Go to www.bathhalf.co.uk for further race details and to sign up to run, like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/BathHalfMarathon and follow @bathhalf #bathhalf #runbath on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest news about the Vitality Bath Half Marathon.