The ballot for the world’s most beautiful city run, the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, was opened today by Royal Parks Foundation trustee, Ben Fogle, in St. James’s Park. This year, the event takes on greater significance as government funding to maintain the parks has been cut by 25 per cent. Money raised from the event offers valuable resources to help the Royal Parks Foundations work and bridge the funding gap.
20,000 runners will take to the streets of London on 12 October for the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, which encompasses four of the Royal Parks: Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Kensington Gardens and Green Park. Since its inception in 2008, the annual event has raised over £18 million for more than 450 charities while also raising sustainable funds for the Royal Parks Foundation to support London’s eight Royal Parks of over 5,000 acres. According to Virgin Money Giving, the event raises more money per runner than any other UK half marathon.
“The government now gives less than half the £35m it takes to care for the Parks each year, leaving many gaps to fill,” commented Royal Parks Foundation chief executive, Sara Lom. “The Parks do a good job at generating income through the cafés, boating and other concessions, as well as through major events such as Frieze Art Fair and the Hyde Park Summer concert series, but the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon is vital to our efforts to help protect rare wildlife, restore historic monuments and engage young people with the natural world.”
Over the years, The Royal Parks Foundation has funded a number of projects to help improve and conserve the Royal Parks such as creating the Isis Education Centre, a state-of-the-art environmental education centre in Hyde Park, plus restoring the 19th century Italian Gardens in Kensington Gardens as part of a project to restore water features across the Parks.
“There are a number of projects we are aiming to support as a charity over the next 12 to 18 months off the back of the support we get from the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon,” said Royal Parks Foundation trustee, Ben Fogle. “For example, after years of enthusiastic use many of the Royal Parks’ children’s playgrounds are in need of some TLC. We want to help create exciting, imaginative spaces for active play in our Royal Parks, so we will be working with the Royal Parks Management teams to design new play spaces at Gloucester Gate in Regent’s Park and South Carriage Drive in Hyde Park.”
The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon ballot opens on Tuesday 25 February until Wednesday 4 March. Runners can enter the ballot by visiting www.royalparkshalf.com
The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 12 October 2014, starting and finishing in Hyde Park.