Thank you so much for your interest in supporting NRAS at the 2026 London Marathon and our mission to change the lives of those living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the UK.
As we only have ONE place, we need to ensure we are recruiting the very best team player who is not only keen to run 26.2 miles, but who is also willing and able to achieve/exceed the sponsorship challenge which is key to the success of the event.
What if I am not confident about achieving the sponsorship requirement?
The target is challenging, and possibly a step too far for some. We’re so thankful to everyone who wishes to support NRAS but, if £1995 seems a little out of reach, please don’t be put off from considering another event. We have marathons and half marathons which have sponsorship requirements of £250. Do take a look at our website here for more events.
Why is the fundraising target what it is?
Charity sponsorship targets for the London Marathon can be as much as £5,000, so we endeavour to be as accessible as possible. Charity places in the London Marathon are very expensive to buy, so we first have to recoup this expense, and then allocate the additional money to support the work of NRAS.
What might help my application?
In short anything that demonstrates your desire to support NRAS and achieve the desired fundraising target is always very helpful.
- Sometimes runners will send a rough fundraising plan which simply outlines how they plan to achieve their fundraising target and roughly when, particularly if they are doing an event. The more detailed the better. It is always helpful to see what approach people are using and it means we can manage our expectations.
- Speak to your employer and see if matched funding is something they offer. Often your employer might contribute to your sponsorship, but also clients, suppliers and contractors might have a charitable policy which you could benefit from. Having corporate support is NOT a requirement at all, it just really helps!
- Anything else you think is important.
When will I find out if I have a place?
We will aim to confirm your place by 30th May to ensure you can begin fundraising quickly.
We highly recommend you enter the ballot and, if successful, do let us know so we can pass your place onto another applicant.
If you’re successful in getting your own place, we would still love for you to be part of #TeamNRAS – you just won’t have a minimum sponsorship level to achieve.
Do email fundraising@nras.org.uk to let us know if you receive your own place and would like to be part of #TeamNRAS.
