The charity of the year for the 2024 TCS London Marathon has been revealed – sooner than intended.
Samaritans was set to be officially unveiled at noon on Wednesday 26 April, in an announcement coordinated with the marathon’s organisers.
But the charity appears to have jumped the starting gun by revealing the news on its fundraising pages ahead of time.
The organisation, whose income was £27.4m in the year ending 31 March 2022, according to the Charity Commission, said it was hoping to raise £1.7m from the hundreds of starting places that it would receive.
That is just under half the £3.5m that Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity hopes to have raised from being charity of the year at last week’s marathon. It was given 487 starting spots.
The British Heart Foundation, charity of the year in 2022, raised £2.3m.
Samaritans, the UK and Ireland’s largest suicide prevention charity, said it wanted to use the ‘charity of the year’ opportunity to break the stigma around suicide and mental health by encouraging people to “believe in tomorrow”.
Julie Bentley, chief executive of Samaritans, said: “The TCS London Marathon is almost a metaphor for life, a journey of highs, with important milestones along the way, but also moments of struggle when a bit of help is needed.
“So, after 70 years of supporting people as they face their own challenges, Samaritans is delighted to be chosen as the 2024 TCS London Marathon Charity of the Year, for the world’s most iconic marathon.”
Bentley added: “Samaritans services are always busy and we also need support to help fund our life-saving work.
“Every step taken and pound raised will help us be there for more people, from all backgrounds and walks of life, who are struggling to cope.
“So I’m urging everyone to get behind #TeamSamaritans at the 2024 TCS London Marathon and together we can really believe in tomorrow.”
Hugh Brasher, event director of the TCS London Marathon, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Samaritans as our official charity of the year for the 2024 TCS London Marathon.
“The work Samaritans does to support the most vulnerable and lonely in our society is essential. We wish Team Samaritans all the very best in their efforts to raise crucial funds to help reach those who need their support the most and to save many more lives.”
To get involved, sign up to run the TCS London Marathon for Samaritans here.