Top 6 Tips On How To Get A Charity Entry In The TCS London Marathon 2027

The charity route is how the vast majority of runners secure their place at the London Marathon. Each year, well over a thousand charities purchase entries, many through a bond system, where a block of four entries must be renewed every four years. Demand far outstrips supply; hundreds of charities attempt to buy entries annually but are turned away, and waiting lists remain lengthy. If you're serious about running for a charity, understanding how this system works gives you a real advantage.

Liz Wood ran for St Raphael's Hospice in Sutton

These entries don't come cheap, and that's precisely why charities ask runners to commit to raising significant sums. The typical fundraising pledge sits at around £2,000, though you'll find some as low as £1,500 and others now exceeding £4,000, a reflection of just how fierce demand has become. In previous years, charities occasionally struggled to fill their full quota of runners. Those days are firmly behind us. Applications flood in from marathon weekend onwards, and it's worth remembering that charities will often have already allocated a portion of their entries to runners who deferred from previous years. So even if a charity appears to have ten spots, several of those may already be spoken for. Securing a charity entry has never been more competitive, and that reality should inform every step of your approach. Most charities actively promote their available places through social media and paid advertising, so a quick online search will surface plenty of options, but having options is only the beginning. so what's the best way to get one. Here are our top tips.

Apply sooner rather than later

Timing is everything. Many, but not all, charities will have their entries fully allocated by August, and some close their applications earlier than that. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you have months to spare. Ideally, you should be applying between April and August to give yourself the best possible chance. Getting in early also means you can begin fundraising straight away, which puts you in a much stronger position, both financially and in terms of building momentum with your supporters. However charities are constantly replacing drop outs and operate a wait list so you can apply any time up until the official cut off in mid March.

Timelines

Official London Marathon ballot - Late April/early May for a week. Now closed.

Charities start accepting applications for entries - ongoing.

Official ballot results - normally June and at that point applications to the charities ramp up significantly.

Charities start offering entries to applicants - ongoing from May. Many will already have offered entries to those who have deferred from the previous year. Most will have confirmed teams by August.

Replacements - some who have been offered entries will drop out and will be replaced by someone on the wait list. This is an ongoing process until mid March.

Final cut off - mid March. Drop outs can't be replaced from that point.

Go above and beyond with your application

The vast majority of charities use an online application form, and you'll typically be asked questions such as why you want to run for them and how you plan to hit your fundraising target. Treat every question seriously. If a field allows up to 200 words, use them; don't submit a vague two-line answer when the person reading it is looking for genuine commitment and personality. Be specific about your connection to the cause, your fundraising ideas, and what makes you a reliable and motivated runner. Consider recording a short video on your phone and including it alongside your written answers. A thoughtful, personal video can set you apart from hundreds of identical form submissions and show the charity exactly who they'd be welcoming onto their team.

Pick a charity that genuinely means something to you

This sounds obvious, but it's worth saying clearly: don't apply to a charity simply because they happen to have entries available. You are committing to raising a substantial amount of money, and that process is far harder, and far less rewarding, if you have no real connection to the cause. Donors can tell the difference between someone who is passionate about what they're raising money for and someone who is just going through the motions. Choose a charity whose work resonates with you personally, and that authenticity will come through in your fundraising, your application, and ultimately your race day experience.

Be careful about applying to multiple charities

While it may be tempting to cast a wide net by sending similar applications to several charities at once, approach this with real caution. Every single year, applicants send emails and application forms that accidentally reference the wrong charity, the result of sloppy copy-and-paste work done in a rush. It happens far more often than you'd think, and it is likely to immediately disqualify you from consideration. If you do apply to more than one, take the time to tailor each application properly, double-check every detail before you submit, and keep a clear record of who you've applied to and what you've said.

These runners from Phab were amongst thousands raising money for their favourite cause

Don't rely on AI to write your application

Charities are increasingly aware that some applicants are using tools like ChatGPT to generate their responses, and many now use detection software to identify AI-written text. Beyond the risk of being caught, there's a more fundamental problem: AI-generated applications tend to sound generic and hollow, and they simply don't capture the personal story that charities are looking for. Your application needs to reflect your voice, your experiences, and your genuine reasons for wanting to run. No algorithm can replicate that and attempting to shortcut the process is likely to cost you the very entry you're hoping to secure.

Don't give up

If getting one of the London Marathon charity entries feels like an uphill struggle, but keep training anyway because persistence pays off. People drop out throughout the year, waiting lists do move, and charities do come back to strong applicants. If you're committed, have a credible fundraising plan, and can demonstrate that determination through your application, your opportunity will come. It may not happen immediately, but the runners who stay ready are the ones who ultimately get to the start line.

London Marathon Charity Entries

Running for a charity is one of the most meaningful ways to experience the London Marathon. Yes, the fundraising target is demanding, but that challenge becomes far more manageable, and far more fulfilling, when you're running for a cause that matters to you. The dark early-morning training runs and the difficult miles feel different when there's genuine purpose behind them. Start your fundraising early, lean into your community, and use the cause itself to keep you motivated when things get tough. It is definitely worth every step.