Run the marathon

If you've ever been tempted to run 26.2 miles, the only marathon to choose is London. Not just a race, the Virgin London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event in the world with 35,000 runners raising millions of pounds each year for their chosen charity.

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Each year London Youth has, on average, 12 places to offer to runners in exchange for their fundraising commitment.

Here's just a taster of how your fundraising can help make a difference to young people's lives...

£100 will buy three new climbing harnesses to use on our state of the art climbing and abseiling wall at our outdoor education centre Hindleap Warren.

£250 will pay for a young person to complete their Community Sports Leadership Award with our Olympic legacy programme Getting Ready, the first step towards a long-term career as a sports coach.

£600 will pay for a group of young people to run their own environmentally themed project through our new Urban Nature programme, the young people at Samuel Montagu in Greenwich are keeping chickens!

£1,000 will fund 20 young people to run their own team building projects as part of Athan 31, allowing young people to step up into leadership roles within their youth clubs and act as positive role models to their peers.

£1,500 will pay for two young people with disabilities to enjoy a week of adventure activities at Activenture, and provide their families with a well-deserved short break.

£1,750 will fund an outdoor adventure and team-building weekend trip to the Lake District for 10 young people and staff from one of our inner-city member clubs.

£2,000 will buy five brand new kayaks for use at our two outdoor education residential centres.

We just had a successful run. Thanks everyone who took part. If you'd like to register your interest in a London Youth place in the 2013 Virgin London Marathon please contact Zoe at zoe.mellis@londonyouth.org.uk with your name, preferred contact details and your reasons for supporting London Youth.

Virgin London Marathon ballot

We strongly recommend that everyone interested in running for London Youth enters the annual ballot for free places. The 2013 ballot is due to open in May 2012. The date for next year's Marathon is Sunday 21st April, 2013. If you have any enquiries about next year's ballot please call the Virgin London Marathon on 020 7902 0200.