Run the TCS London Marathon for charity

Fancy running 26.2 miles around the UK capital? Take part in one of the world’s best-known athletics events to raise money for Sightsavers’ vital work.

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James ran the marathon in aid of Sightsavers in 2025.

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When it comes to charity challenges, this world-famous event is the one to beat.

Every year, over 50,000 runners cross the TCS London Marathon start line as they embark on the 26.2-mile course, which snakes its way through central London, passing Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.

It’s not just for elite athletes, either: every year, thousands of first-time runners are cheered round the course and over the finish line by crowds of supporters who line the route. The atmosphere is euphoric, emotional and never to be forgotten.

Event information

When: Sunday 25 April 2027
Where: London, UK
Registration fee: Free
Fundraising target: £2,200

How to apply

1. Sightsavers charity place

Our application process will open soon. We’d love to welcome you to our team.

To register for one of our places, please complete our application form. Please provide as much detail as possible about why you’re raring to run for Sightsavers and how you’d intend to raise the minimum fundraising target of £2,200 (excluding Gift Aid).

  • Charity places are strictly limited. We ask our runners to each fundraise a minimum of £2,200: as a charity, we rely on runners to meet their pledge.
  • We will be in touch with the outcome of your application. If you’re successful and we offer you one of our charity places, we will register you with the organisers. You will then need to complete the registration with them to secure your place.
  • We ask you to fundraise an initial £500 by Friday 20 November 2026. If you miss this deadline, your place may be offered to someone else.

 

2. Public ballot

The information about the 2027 TCS London Marathon ballot has not yet been released, so we’ve left the information about last year’s ballot here as a general guideline: the public ballot for the 2026 TCS London Marathon opened at 9am on Friday 25 April 2025 and closed at 4pm on Friday 2 May 2025.

If you secure a place through the 2027 ballot, we’d love you to fundraise for Sightsavers! If you get a ballot place, you won’t have a set fundraising target to hit, but everything you raise will help to support our vital work. For details, email [email protected].

Fundraisier Taofeek waves while running the 2025 London Marathon. He's wearing a yellow Sightsavers T-shirt.

Ready to run for Sightsavers?

Applications for the 2027 TCS London Marathon will open soon.

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Charity runner Anya smiles broadly while holding her race medal.

Find your next fundraising event

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Any fundraising questions? Drop us a line!

Group of people wearing Sightsavers yellow t-shirts.

Please do get in touch with any queries. We’d love to hear from you!

Email [email protected]

For answers to some of the most common queries, see our frequently asked questions.

Start your fundraising journey with us

Fundraise for Sightsavers