Charity places in Hackney Half Marathon
Sun 18 May 2025 London, UK

Run for charity | Hackney Half Marathon

One of the capital's favourite running events thanks to its fusion of running, music and culture and part of a weekend-long festival taking over the borough. Charity places now available for 2025.

Charity places

Event overview

One of the highlights of London's running calendar where culture and movement collide! This festival weekend, featuring the popular Hackney Half Marathon, returns to the Marshes in springtime.

Expect pure vibrancy as the borough comes alive for three days of celebrating the best of East London culture with crowds cheering you on at every turn!

In fact, spectators and supporters line the streets in their thousands to cheer on runners. Combined with entertainment on the course, this creates a rapturous, motivational atmosphere to help push you to the finish line!

Highlights

  • Festival atmosphere

    The three-day festival takes over Hackney with the air pulsing to live music, the sun shining and bars spilling out onto the streets. It's as fun for spectators as it is for runners.

  • Free community 5K

    Everyone aged 16+ can walk, jog or sprint the 5K course which is completely free, soaking up the festival vibes as you go.

  • Dynamic route

    Hackney is an exciting borough with vibrant street art and this route is designed to showcase its culture! Full of twists and turns, local landmarks and the Olympic Park.

  • Festival Village

    Spectators and runners will be entertained with yoga classes, stretching workshops, exhibitor demonstrations, food stands, bars, live music and more. Runners will hang around for hours afterwards, decked out in new medals and race t-shirts!

Event details are on the Hackney Half Marathon listing.

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.

Dreams Come True
Featured Children

Dreams Come True

Join the #DreamTeam and help make dreams come true for children with serious or life-limiting conditions, living in the highest areas of deprivation in the UK.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Training guide
  • Dedicated contact
  • Certificate

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£300

Disability

Whizz-Kidz

Whizz Kidz creates opportunities for young wheelchair users to get the equipment, skills and confidence to go further.

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

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£350

Health and Medical

St John Ambulance

The nation's leading first aid charity, to teach everyone simple, life saving skills.

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

Sign up
£10

Fundraise
£250

Health and Medical

Stroke Association

Rebuilding lives after stroke.

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

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£250

Social welfare

Carers UK

Help make life better for carers.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training guide
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Certificate
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£250

Health and Medical

Parkinson's UK

Find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.

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

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£250

Hospice

St Joseph's Hospice

Providing the highest quality hospice care to help people live their lives to the full.

  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Dedicated contact
  • Pre-event meet-ups
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Free massage
  • Exclusive social group
  • Certificate

Sign up
£15

Fundraise
£250

Social welfare

Turn2us

Information and support for people in the UK to build financial sustainability and thrive.

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

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£350

Health and Medical

Epilepsy Society

Transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.

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

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£350

Children

Samuel's Charity

Every sick child needs a smile. Helping seriously and terminally ill children, to bring hope and support across the UK.

  • T-shirt
  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£250

Children

Smile Train

Supporting cleft surgery and other forms of essential comprehensive cleft care.

  • Running vest
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Certificate

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£300

Children

Rainbow Trust

Supporting families with a seriously ill child.

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

Sign up
£10

Fundraise
£375

Homelessness

The Passage

Together we can end homelessness for good.

  • Running vest
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Certificate
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£300

Cancer

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

Offering support, advice and information to UK families affected by retinoblastoma.

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

Sign up
£35

Fundraise
£350

Dementia

Alzheimer's Research UK

Funding world-class scientific research to make breakthroughs possible.

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

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£300

Children

Make-A-Wish UK

Creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Certificate
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£26

Fundraise
£300

Heart

HEART UK

The only charity in the UK to support people with high cholesterol.

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

Sign up
£15

Fundraise
£250

Cancer

Look Good Feel Better

Services for cancer patients aimed to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

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

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£400

Mental health

SANE

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

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

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£350

Cancer

Bowel Cancer UK

Beating bowel cancer together.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Exclusive social group

Sign up
£35

Fundraise
£375

Cancer

Orchid, Fighting Male Cancer

Raising awareness and saving lives for prostate, testicular and penile cancer.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Certificate
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£35

Fundraise
£300

Health and Medical

Meningitis Research Foundation

Defeating meningitis and septicaemia.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials

Sign up
£15

Fundraise
£300

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
£41.60

Fundraise
£300

Cancer

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

Pioneering new cancer treatments to create a future beyond cancer.

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

Sign up
£20.80

Fundraise
£350

Cancer

Macmillan Cancer Support

No one should have to face cancer alone.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Fundraising support
  • Training plan
  • Cheer squad on the day

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£300

Health and Medical

Cure Parkinson's

Here for the cure; working with urgency to find new treatments to slow, stop and reverse Parkinson’s.

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

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£400

Social welfare

Victim Support

Where people affected by crime or traumatic events get the support they need and the respect they deserve.

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

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£300

Children

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity

Helping the hospital offer a better future to seriously ill children across the UK.

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Refreshments
  • Prize draw

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£300

Human rights

Refugee Action

Helping refugees build safe, hopeful and productive new lives in the UK.

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

Sign up
£35

Fundraise
£350

International

WaterAid

Providing clean water and decent toilets to everyone, everywhere.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Bespoke training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Training guide
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Pre-event training sessions

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£250

Disability

Mencap

Helping people with a learning disability to live their lives as they choose.

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

Sign up
£20.80

Fundraise
£300

Free sign up Homelessness

Missing People

The only UK charity that reunites missing children and adults with their loved ones.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Online training zone
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Exclusive social group
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
FREE

Fundraise
£350

Children

Childhood First

For children aged 5-18 who have experienced severe abuse, neglect and early-life trauma.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£30

Fundraise
£350

Homelessness

St Mungo's

Ending homelessness, rebuilding lives.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Bespoke training plan
  • Pro training advice
  • Dedicated contact
  • Cheer squad on the day
  • Post-race reception
  • Refreshments
  • Free massage

Sign up
£15

Fundraise
£300

Cancer

Target Ovarian Cancer

Raise awareness, fund research and save lives.

  • T-shirt
  • Technical t-shirt
  • Running vest
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£300

Fundraising

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 get a place in the event, especially if general entries are closed.

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