One of the biggest running events in the world, the London Marathon is set over a largely flat course around the River Thames. The race begins in Blackheath and finishes in The Mall alongside St James’s Palace.

St George’s Hospital Charity has five charity places available for the 2013 London Marathon. These are called Golden Bonds.

If you would like to run for St George’s Hospital Charity, we advise you to follow the steps below:

Step 1 – Apply through the official ballot

This means you’ll be in with the chance of getting your ‘own’ place, and can still run for St George’s, raising as much as you can (and with no minimum sponsorship).
You can only apply for the ballot online. We advise that you do this as soon as the public online ballot opens as it closes as soon as it is full (very quickly!) – http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/. The public ballot opens on Monday 30 April 2012.

By October 2012 you will receive a copy of Marathon News which will advise if you have been successful or not.

If you are successful we would love to have you join our team of runners – you’ll receive the same support as our Golden Bond runners.

Step 2 – Apply for one of our Golden Bond places

We advise you to apply for the ballot, but if you want to double your chances of being able to take part then please apply for one of our guaranteed, but limited, Golden Bonds. Download and complete our application form. We will let you know by the end of October 2012 whether or not you have been successful.

We ask all Golden Bond runners to pledge to raise a minimum of £2,000 to help us continue to support St George’s.

What’s in it for you?

You’ll be raising money for an important cause. Many of the people who have run for St George’s in the past have done so because they want to give something back for the care and treatment that they or a loved one has received. Others have been motivated by a particular area or specialism of the hospital.

Whatever your motivation, the St George’s Hospital Charity fundraising team will support you along the way, with encouragement and enthusiasm!

London Marathon 2013 Application Form pdf

The 2013 London Marathon takes place on Sunday 21 April.