Samaritans, the suicide prevention charity, is the 2024 TCS London Marathon charity of the year.
The charity is hoping participants in the 2024 London Marathon will help it to raise £1.7m. This year GOSH Charity was the charity of the year, and said it hoped to raise £3.5m.
Charity Commission data for the financial year ending 31 March 2022 puts Samaritans’ total income at more than £27m.
‘Every step taken and pound raised will help us’
Samaritans’ chief executive Julie Bentley said: “The TCS London Marathon is almost a metaphor for life, a journey of highs, with important milestones along the way, but also moments of struggle when a bit of help is needed.
“Samaritans services are always busy, and we also need support to help fund our life-saving work. Every step taken and pound raised will help us be there for more people, from all backgrounds and walks of life, who are struggling to cope.”
Last year, 23,000 people volunteered for the charity and Samaritans volunteers spent almost one million hours answering calls for help by phone, email, online chat and letters.
Hugh Brasher, event director of the TCS London Marathon, said the work Samaritans does to support the most vulnerable and lonely in society is essential and that adding crucial funds would help reach those who need their support the most and to save many more lives.
Participants will take to the streets of London and across the nation for next year’s marathon on 21 April 2024.
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