A beautiful autumn day saw 25 runners taking to the streets of London’s Royal Parks (and one running remotely due to the train strike!) to raise thousands of pounds for Panathlon.

The annual fundraiser for Panathlon has never seen better weather conditions for the run which takes participants past many iconic London landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, 10 Downing Street and of course through three of the capital’s Royal Parks.

The route started by Hyde Park and ran past Buckingham Palace, through Whitehall and Big Ben and then down the Embankment before turning around and going back through Admirality Arch, St. James’s Park, Green Park and then into Hyde Park for a few loops past the Serpentine before the finish just along from the Royal Albert Hall.

Panathlon had teams of runners from our long-term supporters, IFL and Woodland Group, the JCB Group, Carter & George and our friends at Bilko.

“We’ve had a fabulous time running through central London and our team of runners have thoroughly enjoyed the experience,” said Rhys Carter, (pictured second left) from Carter and George Physio group who provided half a dozen runners for the race.

A big thank you also to our friends at International Food Link and Woodland Group who constantly supply volunteers for every event going, whether it be Ride London or numerous fun runs etc. We really apprecaite your long term support! thank you. Pictured here are some of the team!

The order across the line was –

  1. Ben Rochford 1.32.09
  2. Chris Hargreaves 1.35.59
  3. Marcus Zentner 1.48.10
  4. Ray Gurvitz 1.48.56
  5. Matthre Plater 1.49.23
  6. Paulius Kytra 1.51.36
  7. Belinda Bell 1.51.54
  8. David Morse 1.52.50
  9. Lisa Rabanal 1.55.01
  10. Louise Horton 1.56.12
  11. Molly Bloomfield 1.57.30
  12. Ray Horton 1.59.33
  13. Ian Iceton 2.00.11
  14. Amy Kent 2.02.59
  15. Simon Barker 2.03.20
  16. Matt Hunt 2.03.21
  17. Rhys Carter 2.08.10
  18. Colin Sturgeon 2.09.31
  19. Jonanne Coleman 2.10.43
  20. James Adams 2.10.44
  21. Adam Osborne 2.10.45
  22. Tracey Sodeau 2.14.28
  23. Sophie Plye 2.35.32
  24. Anna Bateman 2.54.07
  25. Liam Butler – ran from home time TBC

A huge thanks again to all our runners and their fundraising efforts!

The Royal Park Half came a week after we had three runners completing the London Marathon for Panathlon, one celebrating his 55th birthday along the way!

Howard Scholes completed London in 4.36.42 and said afterwards: “The tough bit was after 20 miles by Canary Wharf knowing that there was still six miles to go. However, the thought of helping the children take part in Panathlon helped me get through the tough bits.” Visit Howard’s fundraising page here.

Also running the virtual London Marathon in Yorkshire were two employees of the Woodland Group, Jonathan and Jim, who completed the 26.2 miles in 4.49.07 and also helped raise vital funds along the way.

Many thanks to everyone who has put in such a determined effort over the last week or so to support the Panathlon charity with vital funds!