2023 Leeds Half Marathon Partner Charities

All 2023 Leeds Half Marathon runners are encouraged to fundraise for their own charity of choice or one of the event’s partner charities;

However, it is recognized that each runner will have their own reason or goal for taking part.

This year's partner charities include the following charities. 

To find out more about these charities, keep on reading. 

Alzheimer’s Society

Alzheimer’s society is a care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers. They are a vital support and powerful force for everyone affected by dementia.

“From everyone at Alzheimer’s Society, we’re so grateful for your support, your miles, your energy, and your determination. By being a part of team Alzheimer’s Society, you’re paving the way to better treatments as you head out on training runs, turning your race morning nerves into ground-breaking studies, and making your finish-line thrill the starting point for better dementia care. Overall, your support allows us to continue to give expert advice, guidance, and support through the most challenging days for people affected by dementia.”

Jenny Lamb, Events Fundraising Coordinator 

To find out more about the Alzheimer’s society and the services they provide, please click here https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/  

Candlelighters

Candlelighters brings light to families by providing emotional, practical and financial support, and hope, by investing in vital research to improve the outcomes and lives of children with cancer.

"We are so grateful to have the support of wonderful people in our community who are dedicated to helping make a difference for children and families across Yorkshire who are affected by childhood cancer. Each year, more than 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer. When a child is diagnosed, lives are turned upside down instantly, not just for the child but the entire family. Getting well again can be a long and challenging journey, emotionally, physically, and financially. Your generosity means that the families affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire do not have to face that unimaginable journey alone. Thank you so much, your support means the world to us."

Sean Donnelly, Fundraising Assistant 

To find out more about Candlelighters and the services they provide go to https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/

Leeds Hospitals Charity

Leeds Hospitals Charity supports Leeds Teaching Hospitals to make a real difference for patients, families and staff and to help enhance the care the NHS already provides. 

“We’re incredibly grateful to all our Team Leeds Hospitals Charity runners who are fundraising for our Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal. We love seeing updates from our participants out training in their purple t-shirts and have seen a community of people from across Yorkshire and the nation come together to help support the fight against MND, inspired by Rob, his family and Sir Kev! Thanks to your commendable fundraising efforts, we’re getting closer to making Rob’s dream of a specialist centre for people living with MND and their families a reality.”

Paul Watkins, Director of Fundraising 

To find out more about the Leeds Hospitals Charity and the services they provide go to https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/

MacMillan Cancer Support

MacMillan Cancer Support are here to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, by providing physical, financial and emotional support.

"Thank you so much to everyone running for Macmillan Cancer Support! We can’t wait to see you in Leeds in May and cheer you on. The money you raise will go on to help us provide vital support for people living with cancer and their families. We hope your training and fundraising is going well – good luck!"

Emma Pound, Challenge Events Programme Manager 

To find out more about MacMillan and the services they provide go to https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us

Yorkshire Cancer Research

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity that helps the people of Yorkshire avoid, survive and cope with cancer.

Every week in Yorkshire, 560 people are diagnosed with cancer.  People are also more likely to get cancer and more likely to die from it than most other counties in England. They want to change this. Their goal is that by 2025, at least 2,000 more people within the Yorkshire region survive cancer every year.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the runners taking part in this year’s Leeds Half Marathon that are helping to fund world-leading cancer research in Yorkshire.

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer, and 600 people are diagnosed with cancer every week. Your support makes life-saving research possible, like the Leeds Lung Health Check, a multimillion-pound clinical trial which is helping people in Leeds benefit from scans designed to find lung cancer at the earliest possible stage, when more treatment options are available. “

Neil Preston – Head of Fundraising

To find out more about Yorkshire Cancer Research and the services they provide go to https://yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/

St Georges Crypt

St Georges Crypt offer care, compassion and hope to the homeless, the vulnerable and those suffering from substance dependence all year round in Leeds.

“St. George’s Crypt is a charity working with homeless and vulnerable people in Leeds. Established in 1930 as temporary relief from the effects of the 1929 Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression, it did not remain temporary for long. The need is just as great now as it was back in 1930. The Crypt offers a wraparound service providing food, accommodation (both emergency and move-on), addressing addiction issues, skills training as a pathway to employment and improving health and wellbeing. Thank you for your support; without it the Crypt would not be able to provide any of the services above. Good luck with your challenge!”

Martin Barry - Fundraising Coordinator 

To find out more about the Crypt and the services they provide go to https://www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk/

The Jane Tomlinson Appeal

The Jane Tomlinson Appeal helps children to be happier and healthier and improves the lives of people living with cancer. The late Jane Tomlinson CBE, was diagnosed with incurable cancer in August 2000 and given just six months to live. 

Over the next seven years, as she defied her diagnosis, Jane went on to achieve what many people might struggle to in a lifetime - surmounting increasingly difficult challenges, capturing the attention of people across the world, and raising over £1.85m for charity.

She also founded what was to become her lasting legacy, the Jane Tomlinson Appeal. To date, through the Appeal and its Run For All events, over £10m has now been raised. 

To find out more about the Appeal, go to https://www.janetomlinsonappeal.com/