Meeting Needs runners raise more than £25,000 in Royal Parks Half Marathon
Thirty-one event industry professionals and supporters took on the 13.1-mile challenge, taking the charity foundation’s cumulative fundraising total past £250,000 over 10 years.
Meeting Needs has raised more than £25,000 through this year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon, with 31 event industry professionals and supporters completing the 13.1-mile course through London on Sunday 11 October.
The fundraising total, which includes sponsorship from Excel London and Mags Worldwide, as well as Gift Aid, takes the charity’s cumulative total from its running teams past £250,000 over the past decade.
The runners joined around 17,000 participants in the annual event, which passes through Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.
Elliot Christie was the fastest Meeting Needs finisher, completing the course in one hour, 30 minutes and 12 seconds. Esther Clark raised the most money individually, collecting £1,745.58, followed by Meeting Needs trustee Chris Xenophontos, who raised £920. Each runner was required to raise a minimum of £400.
The event also produced a demonstration of team spirit after Claire Herbert suffered a fall at the 4km mark. Supported by fellow runner Maris Kuklis for the remainder of the course, Herbert completed the half marathon despite a bruised knee.
Esther Clark said: “What a day and what a fantastic group of people!”
Meeting Needs chair Lene Corgan said: “The Royal Parks Half Marathon is a wonderful example of what our events industry can achieve when we come together for a shared purpose.
“Every mile run, every pound raised and every person who gets involved helps us create a lasting positive impact. This is the power of our industry at its best - bringing people together, inspiring action and making a difference beyond the events themselves.”