‘Friends of Ealing Half Marathon’ Membership Scheme
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The organisers of the award-winning Ealing Half Marathon have launched a Friends of Ealing Half Marathon membership scheme to enable people to become part of the event and help it continue to grow over the years to come.
The launch of Friends of Ealing Half Marathon comes as the race enters its sixth year and looks forward to staging its biggest and best event yet on Sunday 24th September 2017.
A firm fixture in the running calendar, the Ealing Half Marathon is well known for its huge community support and lively atmosphere, and it is expected that the new membership scheme will be extremely well received by those who wish to be more involved in the much-loved race.
With the Ealing Half Marathon registered as a Community Interest Company, whereby it ploughs all profits straight back into the community, Friends of Ealing Half Marathon is a perfect way for those who benefit from the race to give something back. With the principal aim of the company to make sport and fitness available to all, typical projects that have received funding from the race include running clubs at schools and for adults, and drives to tackle childhood obesity. Each and every person who becomes a Friend of Ealing Half Marathon will be helping to fund the race and continue the cycle of investment into the community.
The benefits of becoming a Friend of Ealing Half Marathon are wide-ranging, and include access to a VIP marquee on the day of the Ealing Half Marathon as well as entry into a draw to be an official starter for the event. Exclusive merchandise will be available and a launch event for all Friends will be held locally each spring. In addition, Friends will be recognised by receiving a digital badge for use on social media and have the option to donate more via the Friends of Ealing Half Marathon web pages.
Race Director Sandra Courtney commented, “We are always being asked how people can help to make Ealing Half Marathon even more successful. An event of our size costs well over a quarter of a million pounds every year to stage, and with no ongoing subsidy we are reliant on race entrants and sponsors. Having an official Friends membership scheme feels like the logical way for people to help and be part of what we are trying to achieve.
“The support we receive is amazing. Thousands of runners, volunteers and spectators really do help to make the Ealing Half Marathon a special event and we will be delighted for the Friends to play their part in helping to make the event sustainable going forward.
“The great thing is that anyone can become a Friend of Ealing Half Marathon. You don’t need to be a runner, a volunteer or a spectator to help; you can be a part of this important West London event just by becoming a Friend and providing valuable support as a member.”
Membership of Friends of Ealing Half Marathon is £35 per year, or £55 including an exclusive t-shirt. All proceeds are invested straight back into the not-for-profit organisation.
You can register to become a member here or you can make a one-off donation here.
A total of 7,500 places are available for the 2017 Ealing Half Marathon, and the event is expected to attract athletes from over 25 countries to West London this autumn to soak up the #EalingFeeling. The Ealing Half Marathon has been voted the UK’s best half marathon at The Running Awards for the last three years, and has once again reached the shortlist for The 2017 Running Awards.
It is expected that general places for the 2017 race will sell out in advance, as they did for 2016, and those wishing to be on the start line in Lammas Park in September are encouraged to secure their place early.
The 13.1-mile single lap, traffic-free course takes runners through parts of Central Ealing, Montpelier, Pitshanger, West Ealing, Hanwell and St Stephens before returning to Lammas Park.
The Lead Charities for the 2017 Ealing Half Marathon are Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society.
Entries for the Ealing Half Marathon 2017 are now open. Until 30th April 2017 the fee is £38 for affiliated runners and £40 for non-affiliated runners, and between 1st May – 31st July 2017 this rises to £40-£42. The organisers are expecting the race to sell out by the end of July.
Go to www.ealinghalfmarathon.com to sign up to the 2017 race. You can also like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ealinghalf and follow @EalingHalf #EalingFeeling on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest news about the Ealing Half Marathon.
