Prince Harry started his three-year stint as Royal Patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust this January 1. The appointment was announced by Virgin last February 22, and is now effective. According to a report in yesterday's "London Evening Standard," the charity is eager for Prince Harry to fire the starting shot at the 2012 London Marathon.
The London Marathon Charitable Trust was set up to funnel excess funds from the annual event into sports and athletics programs in London. It organizes the London Marathon, adidas Half Marathon, Bupa London 10000, Standard Chartered Great City Race and the adidas Women’s 5km Challenge. Once the cost of running these races is raised, the excess goes into grants. The 2010 London Marathon, in which Princess Beatrice took part, raised £5,365,352 that was awarded in grants. (Story continues below.)
Each year, the London Marathon also adopts an official charity; participants raise money for these charities themselves. 2012 is a joint effort for The Prostate Cancer Charity and Breast Cancer Care. The sports charity was set up by Chris Brasher and Guy Disley in 1981 and is registered charity #283813 .
Prince Harry's three-year support feeds into the growing trend among the younger generation of Royals to support charities not lifelong, but through specific initiatives. The Prince's role as an Olympic ambassador is also likely to draw attention to the London Marathon's work, as are his interest in things athletic.
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Sources: London Evening Standard; Virgin London Marathon: 2011 press release; 2012 official charity; London Marathon Charitable Trust
Get British Royal Family news by subscribing to this column or using the RSS feed. Linda Gentile is the British Royal Family Examiner and you can also follow on Twitter and Facebook. And, for yet more British life and culture, check out Linda's British Life column.
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