Chester’s Babygrow Appeal is set for an estimated £15,000 fundraising boost after the MBNA Chester Marathon confirmed it would partner with the charity for 2015.

The group, which aims to raise money to build a new Neonatal Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, hopes to recruit at least 30 fundraisers to take part in the popular event on Sunday, October 4, 2015.

Babygrow is also the official charity partner of the Chester Half Marathon this year and hopes the combination of fundraisers taking part in both races will help the group get closer to its overall fundraising target of £3million.

Lesley Woodhead, Corporate and Events Fundraising Manager for the Countess of Chester Hospital, said: “We are delighted that Babygrow has been chosen as the official charity of the MBNA Chester Marathon for 2015 and look forward to some of our Chester Half Marathon runners taking up the new challenge!

“The Babygrow Appeal is close to the hearts of many people across Chester so it’s great for them to be able to take part in a local event and help Babygrow at the same time.”

“Chris, Andy and the whole Active Leisure Events team are great partners, very enthusiastic and professional and committed to giving all the runners a fantastic time.”

Almost 5,000 people entered last year’s MBNA Chester Marathon, raising an estimated £700,000 for various local and national charities.

The event was named one of the ‘UK’s Top 10 Marathons’ by Runner’s World Readers in January and even more entries are expected this year with the MBNA Metric Marathon and MBNA Mini Marathon on the same day.

Andy White, from race organisers Active Leisure Events, said: “We’re really proud of the positive impact our events have had and continue to have on the work of local and national charities.

“We partner with a charity every year and for 2015 we wanted to help the Babygrow Appeal because it’s a fantastic charity and the team are really proactive with their fundraising efforts.

“The MBNA Chester Marathon and Chester Half Marathon are famous for their fantastic routes and the great atmosphere, but if there’s anyone needing another reason to take part we hope they will consider joining Team Babygrow and contributing to a great cause.”

To help fundraise for the Babygrow Appeal, please visit www.chestermarathon.co.uk to enter the race and then send an email to emma.cross@nhs.net