Fundraisers taking part in the Chester Marathon last Sunday are expected to have raised more than £700,000 for a range of good causes.
The partner charity, the Countess of Chester Hospital’s Babygrow Appeal, hopes to have raised £15,000 from the three events – the main race, the Metric Marathon and the MBNA Mini Marathon – to put towards the building of a new neonatal unit.
Thousands of runners took to the starting line on Sunday, October 4 for the sixth annual MBNA Chester Marathon.
Almost 3,500 runners of all ages and abilities signed up to the weekend’s elite race with international runners coming from as far as Australia, China, Costa Rica, Morocco and Russia.
More than 1,100 runners took on the 26.2km Metric Marathon challenge and 350 children and their families ran the one-mile fun run lap around Chester Racecourse.
Chris Hulse from Chester-based race organisers Active Leisure Events: “It’s been an unbelievable weekend of distance races and once again we have to thank the thousands of runners that took part and the spectators that helped create such a wonderful atmosphere right along the route.
“We’ve been really lucky with the weather again today and the conditions were almost perfect – we’re expecting a significant proportion of our runners to have set new personal best times in the MBNA Chester Marathon today and the course is ideal for that as it’s largely flat and very fast.
“To attract 5,000 entrants to these events is a significant achievement and it really helps to put Chester on the map as an international destination of choice.
"We hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and we’re looking forward to more of the same in 2016 with both these races and the Chester Half Marathon in May!”
Head of Partner Management at MBNA Patricia Brassil Poole said: “We’ve proudly supported this event since its inception in 2010 and during that time many thousands of inspirational fundraisers have taken part and helped raise millions of pounds for a variety of local and national charities.
“It’s fantastic to see the international draw of the race, with runners coming from all over the world to take part at the weekend.”
Sign up now for next year
The 2016 MBNA Chester Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 2 next year and both races are now open for early bird registrations. Places at the MBNA Chester Marathon start from £45 and online entries are available. MBNA Chester Metric Marathon places are available from £35.
The 2016 Chester Half Marathon is also open for entries. Taking place on Sunday, May 15, places can be booked from £30 here.
Who did you run for? How much did you raise? Let us know in the comments below
