More than a quarter of a billion pounds has been raised for charity by London Marathon runners in the past five years

A total of 261.4 million has been raised for charity by London Marathon runners in the last five years, breaking a target set by the event and Virgin when the brand was announced as the title sponsor in 2010.

During the five years that Virgin has sponsored the race, the event has raised more than a quarter of a billion pounds, while individual runners in the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon set yet another record figure for charity fundraising for good causes by generating 53.2 million.

It is the eighth consecutive year that London Marathon entrants have broken the Guinness world record for the largest annual single-day charity fundraising event worldwide, with these figures bringing the total raised for hundreds of charitable causes since the race began in 1981 to more than 716 million.

“When Virgin first got involved with the London Marathon we set the bar high and challenged runners to not only complete their 26 miles, but within five years also help raise a quarter of a billion pounds for good causes,” said Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson.

“Today’s news shows that not only have we all risen to that challenge, but during the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon we smashed right through it.”

In the last five of eight record years of charity fundraising at the London Marathon, the amount raised by runners has grown considerably, from 50.6 million in 2010 to the 53.2 million in 2014:

2010 50.6 million
2011 51.8 million
2012 52.8 million
2013 53.0 million
2014 53.2 million

“We are extremely pleased to reach the quarter of a billion pound figure in only five years with our partnership with Virgin Money, and especially delighted that this year s amazing London Marathon runners have, once again, raised a record-breaking amount of money for charity,” commented race director Hugh Brasher.

The 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon will take place on Sunday April 26, 2015, with the official charity to be Cancer Research UK.

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