23 April 2024, The Tablet

Runners raise thousands for Catholic charities in London marathon



Runners raise thousands for Catholic charities in London marathon

Mark Dunn, JRS staff member, running the marathon.
JRS UK

Cafod, Jesuit Refugee Service UK, the Prison Advice and Care Trust and HCPT are among Catholic charities who had teams running in last Sunday’s London Marathon, prompting thousands of pounds worth of charitable giving.

Cafod director Christine Allen congratulated Team Cafod, saying, “You were amazing and thanks for doing it in support of our work.” By Tuesday more than £56,000 had been raised on Cafod’s London Marathon team page. Cafod in Plymouth congratulated 61-year-old David Wells, a Catholic speaker and author, saying, “David is fuelled by his inspirational faith and love for the world, but will be given even more energy if you can sponsor him.”  Wells raised well beyond his target of £6,000 on his JustGiving page.

JRS UK had a team of 26 runners, including a refugee supported by JRS. “I was struck by the gratitude of refugees when they learnt how many people were running to support them this year,” said JRS’s Eileen Cole. “Their effort is vital to enable JRS’s work with refugees and to enable us to continue to fight the Rwanda plan, and support those potentially affected by it.” Team JRS UK raised more than £41,500 on their Just Giving page.

Anthony, running for JRS UK. 

Andy Keen-Downs, chief executive of Pact, thanked Pact’s “wonderful runners” running for prison advice outreach. HCPT offered “congratulations to all the incredible London Marathon runners and especially those who ran for HCPT.”  Runners from HCPT local groups in Hayes, Epsom, Tower Hamlets, Sunbury, Orpington and Norwich took part.

Two staff of Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School in Hertfordshire – Colette Gissane and Michael McFadden – ran their first Marathon raising nearly £5,000 between them for Mencap and NSPCC. The school tweeted that it was “proud of you taking on this monumental challenge”.

Last year, the London Marathon raised £63m for charities. This year, more than £30m was already donated to 18,000 fundraisers on JustGiving ahead of Sunday’s event, 20 per cent more than this time last year.

 

CAFOD's London Marathon Team 2024

 
 
 

 

 


  Loading ...
Get Instant Access
Subscribe to The Tablet for just £7.99

Subscribe today to take advantage of our introductory offers and enjoy 30 days' access for just £7.99