Charity places in Half Marathon
Sun 18 May 2025 Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK

Charity places in Great Manchester Run Half Marathon 2025

The city’s original and best-loved running event! It's a party from start to finish with a high-energy soundtrack and live music. Over 99% of Manchester runners say they’d recommend it to a friend.

Charity places

Event overview

Be your greatest in 2025!

In true Mancunian style, it’s a party from start to finish, with a high-energy soundtrack, live music and entertainment zones at every turn – plus, some of the loudest and most enthusiastic local support seen anywhere in the UK. Go Manchester!

It’s a run for everyone, of all ages and abilities, whether you’re just beginning your running journey, or conquering your 50th half marathon. So whether you do it to hit a fitness goal, to do something incredible for charity, to hear thousands of strangers cheering you on, or simply for fun, take your place on the start line and experience it all for yourself. It’s an experience like no other, be part of it!

Highlights

  • Fast and flat city centre route past iconic landmarks
  • Coronation Street and Imperial War Museum
  • Music and entertainment to keep you motivated
  • Free training plans and support up to event day
  • Run number personalised with your name
  • Exclusive runner-only discounts via the rewards platform 
  • Free Great Run series event day tracking app
  • £10 off your next Great Run if you refer a friend

Event video

Charity places

These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity and complete the form to ask a question or get signed up.

Cancer

Macmillan Cancer Support

No one should have to face cancer alone.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Refreshments
  • Free massage

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£350

Health and Medical

Breakthrough T1D

The leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy charity.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising incentives
  • Dedicated contact
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£350

Cancer

Brainstrust

Helping the brain tumour community to feel less alone and more in control.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£225

Mental health

Mind

The mental health charity.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training guide
  • Dedicated contact
  • Post-race reception

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£300

Free sign up Rescue

North West Air Ambulance

Flying to save lives.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
FREE

Fundraise
£240

Health and Medical

Diabetes UK

Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Supporter cheer packs
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Exclusive social group
  • Memento

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£250

Children

Dreams Come True

Making dreams come true to bring joy to seriously ill children.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Certificate

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£250

Health and Medical

Stroke Association

Rebuilding lives after stroke.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£250

Heart

Heart Research UK

Funding pioneering medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£250

Free sign up Health and Medical

The Christie

Making a real difference to cancer patients, both now and in the future.

  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
FREE

Fundraise
£250

Armed forces

Walking With The Wounded

Mentally, physically and socially wounded ex-service personnel and their families are supported to receive the help they deserve.

  • T-shirt
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Exclusive social group
  • Memento

Sign up
£35

Fundraise
£380

Mental health

SANE

Supporting those affected by mental illness to change mental health for good.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£200

  • All fitness levels
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Teams
  • Wheelchair users

Timetable

  • 08:20 | Half Marathon start
  • 11:40 | 10K start

Wheelchair users

The Great Manchester Run half marathon course is unsuitable for wheelchair participants however wheelchair participants of all abilities are welcome into the Great Manchester Run 10K.

There is a question on the entry form that asks if you are a wheelchair user and if you will be participating in a self-propelled racing wheelchair, or if you will be participating in a standard wheelchair and will be assisted (pushed).

Business Challenge

The Business Challenge is a corporate running challenge in the biggest cities across the UK. It’s open to organisations of all shapes and sizes, is suitable for groups large or small (minimum team of 4) and is great for all ages and abilities. If you’re tired of cringey teambuilding exercises, it’s a great way to invest in workforce wellbeing for a happier and healthier team.

  • A team can be four or more, there is no maximum number of team members.
  • The finishing times of the fastest 4 members of the team will be used to calculate the overall team time.
  • Manage your team through an easy-to-use group dashboard. Swap runners up until six weeks before the event.
  • The winning team at each event will receive a trophy to display with pride.

  • Accommodation
  • Bag storage
  • Cafe
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Paid parking
  • Showers
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Portland Street
Manchester
Greater Manchester
M1 4LX
UK

  • Distance markers
  • Entertainment
  • First aid
  • Flat
  • Marshals
  • No cut off time
  • Out and back
  • PB
  • Sweeper
  • Toilets
  • Traffic free
  • Water stations
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

Overview

Boasting a city centre start and finish, the course lends itself to a great PB and takes runners on a wonderful city tour featuring Manchester United football ground, Coronation Street, Manchester City football ground, the Etihad Stadium, Old Trafford, the Imperial War Museum and Albert Square.

Map

map

Flyover

  • Public transport links
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability policy
  • Trees not tees

Sustainability policy

The Great Run Company is in the process of updating its Sustainability Strategy in light of its collaborative approach and recent survey. Work to minimise the environmental impacts of their events will continue throughout this process, with particular focus on:

  • Reducing plastic
  • Reducing waste
  • Cutting carbon emissions
  • Responsible procurement

 

In addition, they are striving to improve performance even further by making sure that sustainability is embedded at the heart of the organisation and culture.

Optional finisher tees

Finisher tees are now optional. You can choose to forgo your finisher tee shirt at the point of entry, and in lieu of this the organiser will make a donation to the National Trust Woodlands Appeal.

The organisers will donate a portion of the fulfilment costs for each runner who chooses this option to the fund and commit that this donation to be around £20,000.

  • Certificate
  • Chip timing
  • Event app
  • Goody bag
  • GPS tracking
  • iTAB
  • Map
  • Medal
  • Pre-event training sessions
  • Race photo
  • Technical t-shirt
  • Training plan

Included

  • The medal

    A shiny new, Great Manchester Run medal, an exclusive finishers t-shirt plus a finisher’s bag filled with goodies.

  • The app

    Event day tracking and results ready to view on the app shortly after you cross the finish line.

  • The discounts

    Access to exclusive runners only discounts and offers via the rewards platform.

medal

Optional extras

  • iTAB

    Make it personal with an iTAB. Order yours when you sign up.

  • T-shirt

    For environmental reasons the official t-shirt is now optional.

  • The photos

    Official event day photos available to view and purchase straight after the event, so smile for the cameras!

  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising support

Every year thousands of runners take part in this event and fundraise for charity. While this is hugely beneficial to the charities it gives the runner advantages too, from supporting a cause that is close to your heart to securing a place in this highly sought-after event and much more.

Benefits of running for charity

Committing to raising money for charity gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus all of these extras which will elevate your event experience:

  • Fundraising support

    Charities know that raising money is all part of the challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think videos for social media, branded imagery and testimonials from previous runners.

  • Training support

    Whether this is your first run or your fifth, you'll need to train for it! You'll receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elite runners too, who can provide exclusive tips for your race preparation. Experts include Runningwithus, Full Potential and five-time Olympian Jo Pavey!

  • Branded running kit

    When you show up on the day, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest to run in on the big day, and often a training top too.

  • Support on the day

    When you're partway through your run and your energy is flagging, what you need is a boost from cheering spectators to keep you moving. Many charities set up a cheer station along the route, keeping an eye out for you to send up a huge cheer as you run past!

  • Post-race recovery

    Refreshments and an indulgent post-race sports massage are often provided by charities for their runners. This is the perfect way to recover alongside other people who have run for that cause.

  • Exclusive social groups

    You won't be the only person running for that charity, so it's well worth meeting other runners through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training runs, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels running high.

What are charity places?

Charities buy places in this event, then give them to runners who agree to raise money for the charity – these are called charity places. Charity places are a great way to support a good cause and secure a place in the event.

Running a half marathon and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you run for?

This event is awesome. We take part every year and whatever your fitness level, age, or reasons to take part, you are guaranteed a life-affirming experience.

My favourite 10K! Incredible support and entertainment all around the course to keep you going. Manchester is a special city and this is always a special event.

Rain, hail or shine, the amazing folk of Manchester come out every year to cheer you on! They pick you up at the start and carry you to the finish!

Wonderful atmosphere and would highly recommend this to anyone whether you're a 10K first timer or not.

A lovely, mainly flat route, which took in both the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford. A well-supported event, which I will be back to do again next year.

A really good 10K race, can't wait to do it all again next year! Crowds were really supportive and the bands/charity points helped keep enthusiasm levels up.