Record Charity Fundraising Figures for Vitality Bath Half Marathon

Running High Events, organisers of the Vitality Bath Half Marathon, have announced record charity fundraising figures from the 2015 race.

A record sum of over £2.1 million was raised for charity at the 2015 Vitality Bath Half Marathon, maintaining the event’s position as the largest single day charity fundraising running event in the South West. 

Charity runners at the 2015 Vitality Bath Half Marathon raised an impressive average £454 per person, the second highest average amount for any road race in the UK alongside the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon in London, and after the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Just under 40% of participants at this year’s race raised money for charity, with an impressive 32% of charity runners fundraising for local charities within Bath & North East Somerset.  The Vitality Bath Half Marathon is one of the most important events in the British sporting calendar, not just for runners of all levels who get to experience a race at a UNESCO World Heritage site but also for over 100 local, regional, national and international charities and over 30 local community volunteer groups raising invaluable income through the event.

Mel Taylor, Charity and Creative Director and Co-Founder of Running High Events, said: “The Vitality Bath Half Marathon is a unique event for many reasons, and we are proud to announce record fundraising figures for this year’s race. For a city the size of Bath it is an impressive achievement to be able to maintain our fundraising position in 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.

“We know that our record fundraising figures are down to a combination of factors. The race sells out each year and gives charities 3-4 months to sell their entries after general public places are sold out. The race is one of most popular in the UK and we've been working with some of our local charity partners since we took over management of the race in 2000.

“We are looking forward to working with the official charities in the lead up to the 2016 race and to providing a great fundraising platform for charities of all sizes. With a record number of charity places reserved for 2016 we are confident that this year’s figures can be surpassed again.”

Macmillan Cancer Support is the Lead Charity, with The Forever Friends Appeal, Time is Precious, Bath Rugby Foundation and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation confirmed as featured charities for the Vitality Bath Half Marathon on 13th March 2016.

Over 110 official charities are involved with the Vitality Bath Half Marathon 2016 and runners can apply to run for their chosen charity by contacting the charities’ events teams directly. Please go to www.bathhalf.co.uk/charities/list-of-charities/ for a list of all the 2016 charities.

The Vitality Bath Half Marathon is one of the most iconic and longest established races on the running calendar and sees participants run through the heart of Bath, which is the only city in the UK designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Entries for the Vitality Bath Half Marathon on Sunday 13th March 2016 are open but selling fast.

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.