Runners Expected to Raise Six Figures for Macmillan at Baxters Loch Ness Marathon

Macmillan Cancer Support’s team of runners at the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running are set to go the extra mile for charity by stepping up to a £100,000 fund-raising target.

Over 160 runners have signed up to fundraise for Macmillan – the official charity partner of the event – in the marathon and accompanying 10K and 5K races on Sunday, September 27. This number is expected to grow as the registration deadline approaches.

Macmillan hopes to be able to improve services available to those living with cancer through the money raised by the Team Macmillan runners. £100,000 can pay for a new palliative care family suite in a community hospital or two Macmillan nurses for almost a year. It can also help run a small Macmillan information and support centre for a year.

Lizzie Quill, of the Macmillan Cancer Support Challenge Events team, says, “We are very proud to be the official charity of the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running.

“Every day 20 people in the North of Scotland hear the devastating news that they have cancer. For those that do, it will probably be the toughest experience they have ever faced. If you are diagnosed with cancer you will want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. And that is where Macmillan comes in.

“Our team of medical professionals across the Highlands provide the highest level of cancer care, and our benefits services in the Highlands help people affected by cancer to overcome the financial impact it can have.

“It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of our supporters in the Highlands who raise so much money for us that we are able to offer vital support to people affected by cancer locally. We don’t want anyone to face cancer alone, and their continued support will help us ensure that nobody does.”

The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running also has five lead affiliate charities – Alzheimer Scotland, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Highland Hospice, MND Scotland, and Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland – as well as over 20 affiliate charities. It is estimated that runners raised over £1.3 million for charity during the 2014 event.

Race director Malcolm Sutherland says, “Organising a large scale event can sometimes feel like a huge challenge, but the efforts of our runners to raise money for charities that do so much good in our community makes it all worthwhile.

“We are incredibly proud to be partnered with Macmillan Cancer Support again this year. I know that they are grateful of the support of our runners, but we also couldn’t imagine the event without them – their volunteers are fantastic at encouraging all runners, and not just Team Macmillan members, all along the course.

“Last year runners raised over £1.3 million for charity, and we hope that the 2015 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running will exceed that. There are still spaces available for those wishing to fundraise, and I would encourage anyone who is considering running to sign up before it’s too late.”

Entry for the 2015 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon is still open, with charity, club and overseas runner places available until Monday, September 7. Spaces for the Baxters River Ness 10K, 10K Corporate Challenge, River Ness 5K and Wee Nessie are also still available until this date.

Find out more about the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running at 79.170.40.224/lochnessmarathon.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/lochnessmarathon and on Twitter @nessmarathon

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