Event overview
The Royal Parks Half was established as an annual fundraising fixture to support and preserve London's eight Royal Parks for public enjoyment, while providing charities of various sizes the opportunity to be involved in a mass participation challenge event.
The greenest race of its kind
Proud to be London's original half marathon, 16,000 runners take to closed streets through four of the eight Royal Parks whilst enjoying Britain's most eco-friendly race and many are running for vital charity causes.
Run for charity
From the very first edition in 2008, this event has exceeded expectations, generating over £70 million for more than 1,200 UK charities!
I did this event as my first ever half marathon and ran it for charity. The location of this event is stunning, going through the different parks and past Buckingham Palace.. Great festival zone, awesome medal. Andrianna
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 ballot entries are closed.
Benefits of running for charity
Committing to raising money for charity not only guarantees you a place in the Royal Parks Half Marathon but gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus many more perks - see the Fundraising section.
Event photos
Event video
Charity places
These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity and provide your details.
Featured
Cancer
Target Ovarian Cancer
Take your place on Team Target to transform the future for everyone with ovarian cancer. You'll receive a branded running top plus access to online training and nutritional plans and much more!
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Online training zone
- Dedicated contact
- Certificate
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£400
Featured
Mental health
Mind
Each year 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem. No one should face it alone. Join the fight for mental health. Join #TeamMind.
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Bespoke training plan
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
Hospice
St Joseph's Hospice
Providing the highest quality hospice care to help people live their lives to the full.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
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 plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Cheer squad on the day
- Certificate
Sign up
£10
Fundraise
£350
Health and Medical
Epilepsy Society
Transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.
- T-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Online training zone
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
International
WaterAid
Providing clean water and decent toilets to everyone, everywhere.
- T-shirt
- Technical t-shirt
- 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
£350
Animals
Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare
Rehoming and rescuing a wide range of animals to help them receive the care they deserve.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
Social welfare
Carers UK
Help make life better for carers.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Certificate
Sign up
£40
Fundraise
£300
Cancer
Orchid, Fighting Male Cancer
Raising awareness and saving lives for prostate, testicular and penile cancer.
- T-shirt
- Fundraising support
- Training plan
- Cheer squad on the day
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£400
Children
The Children's Society
It’s time to support children in the UK who feel scared, unloved and unable to cope.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
Children
Rainbow Trust
Supporting families with a seriously ill child.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£10
Fundraise
£375
Cancer
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
Pioneering new cancer treatments to create a future beyond cancer.
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
- Refreshments
- Free massage
- Certificate
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£350
Health and Medical
Meningitis Research Foundation
Defeating meningitis and septicaemia.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
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
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
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Free sign up
Social welfare
Alcohol Change UK
Working to end serious alcohol harm in the UK.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising incentives
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
Sign up
FREE
Fundraise
£350
Health and Medical
MS Society
For a world free from the effects of MS.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Supporter cheer packs
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
Health and Medical
Royal Osteoporosis Society
Driving research into bone health to create a future without osteoporosis.
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£50
Fundraise
£300
Homelessness
The Passage
Together we can end homelessness for good.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising incentives
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
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Animals
Cats Protection
For a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Dedicated contact
- Exclusive social group
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£375
Cancer
Macmillan Cancer Support
No one should have to face cancer alone.
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Online training zone
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
Health and Medical
Stroke Association
Rebuilding lives after stroke.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
Children
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Helping the hospital offer a better future to seriously ill children across the UK.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Bespoke training plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
Hospice
Sue Ryder
Giving people compassion and expert care to help them live the best life they can.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Training plan
- Training guide
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£300
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.
- Technical t-shirt
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Exclusive social group
- Memento
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£380
Heart
Cardiomyopathy UK
Providing information and support to sufferers of this incurable disease which could affect anyone of any age.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£10
Fundraise
£450
Children
NSPCC
Every childhood is worth fighting for.
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Bespoke training plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Training days
- Pre-event meet-ups
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
- Refreshments
- Exclusive social group
- Pre-event training sessions
Sign up
£15
Fundraise
£350
Children
Young Epilepsy
Informing, educating, inspiring, and engaging to help young people with epilepsy.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£750
Social welfare
Victim Support
Where people affected by crime or traumatic events get the support they need and the respect they deserve.
- T-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£300
Disability
Dyscover
Specialist aphasia support: Providing long-term support and opportunities to people with aphasia and their families.
- T-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Certificate
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£300
Hospice
Princess Alice Hospice
Providing compassionate hospice care to improve quality of life right to the end.
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£50
Fundraise
£450
Health and Medical
Guts UK
Funding research into digestive diseases to save lives with better treatments.
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£15
Fundraise
£350
Animals
PDSA
The UK’s leading veterinary charity, saving and protecting pets.
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£70
Fundraise
£500
Cancer
Blood Cancer UK
The blood cancer research charity.
- T-shirt
- Fundraising support
- Training plan
- Pro training advice
- Online training zone
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£10
Fundraise
£350
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Social welfare
Turn2us
Information and support for people in the UK to build financial sustainability and thrive.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
Older people
Independent Age
Advice and support for older age.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£300
Children
Child Bereavement UK
Supporting bereaved children and families to help rebuild their lives.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£375
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
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
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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
£25
Fundraise
£400
International
CAFOD - Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
CAFOD is there, wherever the need is greatest to ensure that no one is beyond reach.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£20
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
- Certificate
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£450
Disability
Whizz-Kidz
Whizz Kidz creates opportunities for young wheelchair users to get the equipment, skills and confidence to go further.
- Running vest
- Fundraising materials
- Training guide
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
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
- Online training zone
- Cheer squad on the day
Sign up
£40
Fundraise
£350
Disability
Mencap
Helping people with a learning disability to live their lives as they choose.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£375
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
Event details
- Event village
- Families
- Fancy dress
- Newcomers
- Spectators
- Traders at event
- Wheelchair users
- Bag storage
- Bar
- Cafe
- Entertainment
- Music
- Park
- Toilets
- Urban
Route
- 1 lap
- Distance markers
- Entertainment
- First aid
- Food stations
- Marshals
- PB
- Point to point
- Toilets
- Traffic free
- Undulating
- Water stations
- Wave start
Sustainability
- Bring your own cup
- Plastic bottle free
- Public transport links
- Recycling
- Sustainability policy
- Trees not tees
What's included
- Chip timing
- Drinks
- Eco goody bag
- Eco medal
- Eco t-shirt
- Event app
- GPS tracking
- Map
- Snacks
- Fundraising incentives
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising support
Benefits of running for charity
When the going gets tough, your admirers step in! As 'masters of motivation', your chosen cause will spur you on and provide plenty of perks in the process:
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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 eye-catching videos for social media and traditional collection tins too.
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Training support
Whether this is your first or fifth half marathon, 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.
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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.
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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. Most 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!
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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.
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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.