Official charities for 2010 Belfast Marathon announced
It was a case of seeing double at the City Hall this afternoon, as details of the officially nominated charities for the 2010 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon were formally announced.
For the first time, two charities will benefit from Northern Ireland’s biggest participatory sporting event.
“It is also one of the biggest charity fundraising events, with almost every runner or walker taking part to benefit their favourite charity,” commented Claire O’Reilly, Event Manager of the 2010 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon.
“Such has been the huge success of the Marathon’s fundraising efforts over the years that, for 2010, we have decided to support not one but two official charities – Concern Worldwide and Marie Curie Cancer Care,” she announced.
With organisers already looking to build on the growing success of the event by bringing more people than ever before onto the streets of Belfast on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, 3 May 2010, Claire is hopeful that even more money will be raised for the worthy causes which the Marathon supports.
“We have gone from strength to strength over the past six years, with our entry numbers increasing every year – and this has inevitably been to the benefit of the charities, with the event raising almost £1 million in 2009,” she said.
“In the past six years, we have more than doubled the number of people taking part in the event, and in 2009 entry levels in some of our events were up by between 20 and 33 per cent. A record-breaking 17,500 people took part in the 2009 Marathon – and we’re very confident that we can break the 20,000 barrier in 2010.”
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, encouraged everyone to throw their weight behind the marathon and its official charities.
“Running a marathon is a unique challenge, a test of endurance and stamina for those who take it on. But, while it is a challenge for the individual concerned, it also is an event which brings people together, to support that individual and their effort.
“We can all play our part in the 2010 Marathon by lending our support to the many thousands who will be taking to the streets next May Day – not just those tackling the full 26 miles, but those friends taking part in relay teams, or those who enjoy the Walk, or the many younger people and families who do their bit in the Fun Run.
“Let us all come together to encourage them, to cheer them on – and, more importantly, to sponsor them and support the official charities, Concern Worldwide and Marie Curie Cancer Care,” concluded Councillor Long.
Teresa Sloan, Regional Events Manager from Marie Curie Cancer Care, said that they were delighted to have been chosen as a nominated charity for 2010, and added:
”We are honoured to be the official local charity for next years Belfast City Marathon. We hope to get more than 1,500 people running in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care with the view of raising £150,000.
“These much needed funds will not only support the work of our 200 nurses across Northern Ireland, but also our hospice in Belfast which provides specialist care and day therapy for patients. Our ambassador, and well known celebrity chef, Jenny Bristow, will also be running the 2010 marathon and we hope plenty of others will follow in her footsteps”.
Teresa’s views were echoed by Deirdre Murphy, Corporate Relationship Manager for Concern Worldwide, who said:
“It’s a huge honour to be chosen as the first exclusively overseas charity to work with the Belfast City Marathon. The world is getting smaller as more people travel and businesses operate in international markets, and so we welcome the marathon’s decision to support our work with some of the poorest people in the world.
“Sonia O’Sullivan spoke last month at the official launch of how she witnessed Concern’s work firsthand in Ethiopia and how impressed she was of how simple steps can make a huge difference to helping people out of poverty. Take part in the marathon and join Concern in our mission to transform and save millions of lives.”
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is also sponsored by Aer Lingus, Belfast City Council, Charles Hurst Renault, New Balance, Sport Northern Ireland, Tayto, Translink and Up and Running. Media partners are the Daily Mirror and U105. Official accommodation partner is Premier Inn.
The 2010 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is organised by Belfast City Marathon Ltd., in partnership with Athletics Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, the Department for Regional Development, Newtownabbey Borough Council, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Translink.
Entries for the 2010 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon officially opened on Thursday 10 September. For further information, including online entry, training tips and much more, log on to www.belfastcitymarathon.com
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Details of the official charities for the 2010 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon will be formally announced at a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, in the City Hall at 2pm today (Thursday 8 October). Filming, interview and photographic opportunities – with identical twin sisters Angeline and Jennifer McKenna – will be available at this time.
For further information, please refer media enquiries to:
Mark Ashby, Media Manager, Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon
Tel: +44 (0)28 9027 0641 or +44 (0)77 1114 1992
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