2013 race off to running start

Thursday 26th April 2012

Organisers of the Sheffield Half Marathon have started thinking about next year's event before the 2012 race is even run.

The marathon committee wants to hear from charities interested in becoming one of the beneficiaries of the 2013 event.

A selection of the charities which apply will then be invited to attend this year's race to get a feel for what being a chosen charity means. Ten will be chosen as final beneficiaries.

Margaret Lilley, chairman of the organising committee, said: "Raising the profile of all our charities has helped them raise funds and awareness, and for smaller charities, our donation can go a significant way to providing services as well as paying overheads and operational costs.

"But becoming a chosen charity does involve a substantial amount of work in the run up to the day, so charities do have to be prepared to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in."

The 2011 race raised more than £110,000 for charities and more than £800,000 has been raised in the race's 30-year history.

The chosen charities for 2012 are British Heart Foundation, Myasthenia Gravis Association, St Luke's Hospice, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre South Yorkshire, Sheffield Wildlife Trust, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, Sheffield Teenage Cancer Trust, Support Dogs, Breast Cancer Care and the Children's Hospital Charity.

To register an interest in becoming a 2013 benefiting charity, write to Sheffield Half Marathon organising committee, 150 Worksop Road, Swallownest, Sheffield, S26 4WE or email info@sheffieldmarathon.com by May 14.

The 2012 SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon and 3k Fun Run starts at 9am on May 27 at the Don Valley Stadium.

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