Runners get ready to line up for Leeds Half Marathon
This weekend is set to see thousands of runners take part in one of Yorkshire’s biggest and oldest charity road races.
The Leeds Half Marathon, now in its 32nd year, is set to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity. Renowned for its supportive crowds and atmosphere, the event is now widely regarded as one of the highlights on the city’s sporting calendar.
Among the more than 8,500 runners set to take part are actor George Rainsford, Ethan Hardy in BBC’s Casualty, former Leeds Rhinos greats Barrie McDermott and Keith Senior.
Other famous faces will include sports broadcaster George Riley, co-presenter of Channel 5’s Football on 5, Sky Sports reporter Bryn Law and Thornhill Community Academy teacher Matthew Burton, who shot to fame in Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire.
Leeds athlete Callum Hall, paralysed after he stood on a sea urchin on holiday, will contest the Wheelchair race.
The route starts in The Headrow alongside Victoria Gardens, heads out of the city centre, takes in a section of the Ring Road and returns via Abbey Road and Kirkstall Road before finishing in Cookridge Street alongside Millennium Square.
Andy Baker, CEO of the event’s title sponsors Plusnet, said: “As a company we have very strong ties with Leeds and are delighted to support an event that does so much for good causes in the city and the wider region.
“Last month’s half marathon in Sheffield got the Plusnet series off to a super start and we are sure the Plusnet Leeds Half Marathon will once again be hugely successful.”
Many of those tasking part will be raising money for the event’s partner charities which this year are the Jane Tomlinson Appeal; Martin House Children’s Hospice; Sue Ryder; St Gemma’s Hospice; Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice; Marie Curie; Overgate Hospice; CLIC Sargent, Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Organised by Run For All, the half marathon stands as part of the lasting legacy of the late fundraiser and campaigner Jane Tomlinson, who raised almost £2m for charity by tackling a series of epic challenges, including cycling over 4,000 miles across America, despite being diagnosed with incurable cancer.
Lynne Preston, Run For All Events Manager, said: “The Leeds Half Marathon is one of the flagship events of our season and we will be working very hard to ensure all those involved, runners, spectators and volunteers, have an excellent day.”
