Children and adults will run in Clapham to raise awareness of missing children on Sunday.
Runners choose 10 miles, three miles or the kids’ one mile in charity Missing People’s annual Miles for Missing Children event on Clapham Common.
Every runner can wear a photo of a child who has gone missing.
Missing People chief executive Jo Youle said: “We’re thrilled to see our flagship annual fundraiser Miles go from strength to strength.
“This year proceeds will go to our new campaign Find Every Child, our largest public appeal for funds yet.”
Research manager Lucy Holmes said children in care were at a particularly high risk.
Each year, 140,000 children go missing in the UK, and under-18-year-olds make up two thirds of cases.
“There are very strong links between gang activity and people going missing, as gangs will often use young people, who are essentially exploited and groomed to sell drugs for them,” said Ms Holmes.
Children from ethnic minority backgrounds are also more likely to go missing.
Metropolitan Police statistics revealed that in Wandsworth, black and minority ethnic people were more than twice as likely to go missing as white people.
In Merton and Lambeth, cases of missing people are 70% higher in ethnic minority groups than those with a white background.
The Miles for Missing Children race is this Sunday, September 26, on Clapham Common at 9am. Participants can register on the day with cash only.
Missing People’s helpline can be reached on 116 000.
