Virgin London Marathon 2014

Take on the 2014 Virgin London Marathon and help us to put lives back together.

Disability can affect any one of us, our families or loved ones at any time. When it does, Leonard Cheshire Disability is here to help.

Join our 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon team and raise vital funds to help our charity to provide innovative local services to a diverse group of disabled people across the UK and around the world.

 Apply for your place now

Registration fee £100, Fundraising target £1800

Virgin Money London Marathon - Public Ballot
The race entry ballot for the Virgin Money London Marathon was open on the morning of Monday 29 April, but is now closed. If you managed to enter the public ballot and are successful in winning a place, you can join our team with no set fundraising targets or additional registration fees.

Its a long time to wait until the results come out in October, though, so why not apply for one of our charity places to guarantee your spot on the start line either way.

With you all the way

We'll give you all the support you need to make your 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon the experience of a lifetime, with a complete Marathon Runner package - including:

• Advice and support every step of the way, with regular newsletters and social networks
• Team training runs in the lead up to the event
• Personalised Leonard Cheshire Disability running vest
• Fundraising support, with a dedicated Events Team member on hand at all times to deal with all your fundraising and marathon enquiries
• Fundraising incentives, including the chance to get a free place in the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon (the perfect training run!)

On race day we'll be there to spur you on from start to finish with two noisy cheering squads along the London Marathon route which your friends and family can join, and a post-race reception close to the finish line where you can get a great sports massage, refreshments, and a very big round of applause.

How you make a difference

83% of disabled people were not born with their disability.

Many have become disabled after an accident, due to a stroke, after being diagnosed with cancer or developing conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or Motor Neurone Disease. These people face life-changing circumstances which can often stop them in their tracks.

Click on the video to get to know some of the people Leonard Cheshire Disability has supported to rebuild their lives - and then go to the How We Help tab to find out how your Virgin London Marathon challenge will make a difference to the lives of many more like them.

 Apply for your place now

Not the event for you?

We've got a range of different events - take your pick from

• the 2013 Great South Run
• a great summer run with the 2013 British London 10k
• our award winning inclusive triathlon, Tri Together

or any of the other choices in our events calendar

1 in 6 people in the UK have a disability

There are over 10 million disabled people in the UK; that’s 1 in 6 of us and it means we’re all likely to know someone with a disability.

Here are the stories of some people we know - people who have been supported by Leonard Cheshire Disability to rebuild their lives.

Duncan – recovering from a stroke

As a devoted family man and the founder of his own award-winning marketing company, Duncan and his family were left devastated when he had a stroke which severely affected his mobility, balance, co-ordination and speech.

Duncan has been attending a Leonard Cheshire Disability day service in London, where our staff and volunteers have helped him take his first steps to recovery and supported him to relearn some basic skills. Through this support, Duncan has made tremendous progress and is now walking unaided and going out into the community on public transport.

‘Leonard Cheshire Disability are absolutely amazing, and bit by bit I am getting my confidence and structure together. I am determined to go back to work and eventually I will.’

Peter – living life with Multiple Sclerosis

Peter was a fit young man who ran marathons, loved rock climbing and jumped out of planes. In 2004 he started experiencing difficulty walking. Loved ones watched as gradually he became paralysed from the neck down.

‘I went from being an active adrenaline junkie to being dependent’.

He was finally diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis. After intensive physiotherapy to help him regain some movement back, he was taken to Symonds House, a Leonard Cheshire Disability care home.

Peter now uses a wheelchair but has regained movement in his upper body and is very independent. His positive attitude has helped him adjust to his new life, but he found the help he needs at Symonds House.

Steven – regaining independence after a Brain Injury

Steven was a fit man of 38, enjoying life to the full. Then one day his life was changed forever when he became the victim of an assault. It left him with a traumatic brain injury which meant that he could no longer walk and was unable to speak.

Luckily, Steven was taken to Oakwood, a Leonard Cheshire Disability acquired brain injury unit in Manchester. The help Steven has been given at Oakwood has made him much more independent an optimistic about his future.

‘The brain injury changed a lot of things for me. Oakwood has helped me work through the challenges I have face, particularly with my walking, which I was not able to do before. I am now really ready to face the future.’

Clare – living with cerebral palsy

‘A daily challenge for me is communication, so I use a light reader to explain what I want, and I also finger spell.

Leonard Cheshire Disability has given me confidence. I really enjoy my job, it keeps me busy.’

Bob - living life with epilepsy and mild learning difficulties

Bob has several disabilities which include epilepsy and mild learning difficulties. He moved to our Springfield residential service when it opened, and was given his own person-centred plan to ensure he made progress and his goals were successful.

'Springfield is such a friendly place and the staff are great. I love that I have the freedom to make my own decisions.'

Living at Springfield has helped Bob to be more confident and has made a big difference to his well-being.

'Springfield has changed my whole attitude to life. I now face challenges with a positive attitude and I'm really excited for the future.'

Ready to join the team and help us to put people's lives back together?

By joining our 2014 Virgin London Marathon team, you'll be playing a vital part in our work supporting disabled people to live life independently. Get your place now!

 Register to run now

Not the event for you?

We've got a range of different events - take your pick from

• the 2013 Great South Run
• a great summer run with the 2013 British London 10k
• our award winning inclusive triathlon, Tri Together

or any of the other choices in our events calendar