London Marathon raises record £73.5 million for charity

This year’s TCS London Marathon raised a new record of £73.5 million for charity, final figures show.

Fundraising had already passed £67 million the day after the event on April 21 – which saw more than 53,700 people cross the finish line.

That figure broke the previous world record for an annual one-day fundraising event, which was £66.4 million was set by the London Marathon in 2019.

Joel Dommett ran for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices dressed in the Piranha costume from The Masked Singer (John Walton/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - John Walton

Final data has now confirmed charity fundraising from the 2024 event reached £73.5 million, bringing the cumulative total raised since the first London Marathon in 1981 to more than £1.3 billion.

Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said: “The TCS London Marathon is an extraordinary day and a wonderful celebration of humanity, where tens of thousands of people take on an incredible challenge and do good for others.

“We salute every single participant who has contributed to this world record-breaking total of £73.5 million for the thousands of charities which provide essential services to so many.”

Enthuse, the official online fundraising partner for the TCS London Marathon, saw a record £30 million raised on its platform, a 60% increase on 2023.

Natalie Pinkham ran for Samaritans in memory of her friend Caroline Flack who took her life in 2020 (John Walton/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - John Walton

Chester Mojay-Sinclare, Enthuse founder and chief executive, said: “Charities play a crucial role in the UK and this outstanding fundraising total is a reflection of people’s gratitude towards them.”

Samaritans was the charity of the year in 2024.

Sonya Trivedy, executive director of external engagement at Samaritans, said it was “a landmark moment” for the charity.

She added: “Partnering with the world’s most iconic marathon provided a unique opportunity for us to reach millions of people with a message of hope – Believe in Tomorrow.

Ruth Wilson raised money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the charity which supported her family after her father’s dementia diagnosis (John Walton/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - John Walton

“We are so grateful to all our 2024 London Marathon runners and partners who have so far helped us raise more than £1.1 million, four times the amount we would normally raise annually via the London Marathon.

“We estimate that over the next three years, the charity of the year partnership will generate a total of £2.8 million.”

Emma Pound, challenge events programme manager for Macmillan, said the London Marathon makes up a huge part of its fundraising income to support people living with cancer and the charity raised more than £2.1 million from the 2024 event.

More than 840,000 people applied in the ballot for a place in the 2025 TCS London Marathon which will take place on April 27, a new record on the 578,304 who applied for 2024.

– Final fundraising data for 2024 was collated by collaborate+ and The Information Lab, with information provided by Enthuse, Cancer Research UK, Crowdfunder, Facebook, GoFundMe, givestar, GiveWheel, GivenGain, Give as you Live, Givey, Funraisin, Instagram, JustGiving, Social Sync and Wonderful.