Runners have been urged to take part in the Royal Park Half Marathon which is lauded as the best known-race of its kind.
Packed with breath-taking views of Buckingham Palace and the Royal Albert Hall, the race spans many of London’s parks.
However, it is the chance to improve the lives of thousands of suffering families which people see as the main attraction.
The starting whistle will blow at 9am on October 14 and there is currently a mad scramble as hundreds hasten to don the Rainbow Trust shirt.
To qualify prospective participants must pay £20 and raise £350 in sponsorship.
Rainbow Trust Director of Fundraising and Marketing Oonagh Goodman said: “We are very grateful to our runners taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon, a fantastic event which helps us fund our vital support to families with a seriously ill child.”
“We would love to encourage more people to sign up for the challenge as every contribution makes a huge difference to the families we support.”
The strain on parents caring for sick children who require specialist support is immense. Especially when there are other hungry mouths to feed and irate bosses to please.
Raymond Egen, a runner participating in the competition, said: “My brother has been through a traumatic year, in and out of hospital with his one-year-old-boy, who had to go for brain surgery regularly.”
The Rainbow Trust Charity pairs each family with a Family Support Worker, who carries out indispensable tasks such as counselling grieving parents, staying with sick children or even driving siblings to school.
“Every time I put on this Rainbow Trust shirt, think of my brother and my nephew and the wonderful support that Rainbow Trust provide for children and their families.”
