About the Manchester Marathon
The Adidas Manchester Marathon is an iconic event. It is the UK’s second largest marathon, and one of Europe’s largest. Join participants from all over the world to run through the vibrant streets of Greater Manchester.
- Event date(s):
- 19 April 2026
- Entry fee:
- £50
- Minimum sponsorship:
- £550
Register for this event
How to enter:
Sign up for a place
Step up for children who need you most. Take on the Manchester Marathon with #TeamBarnardos and make every stride count.
The requirements for our charity places in the Manchester Marathon are:
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Registration fee: £50
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Fundraising target: £550
How do I join Team Barnardo’s if I already have a place?
If you have secured your own place in the Manchester Marathon through the event organisers, you can still join Team Barnardo’s without any registration fee. We encourage you to raise as much as possible to support our work with young people.
Looking for inspiration?
Why run for Barnardo’s?
Our dedicated Challenge Events team will support you every step of the way with your training and fundraising to ensure you are prepared for race day. As part of #TeamBarnardos, you will receive:
- Expert advice and training plans from our training partner, Running With Us.
- A VIP post-race party in the charity village to say a special thank you for all your hard work.
- Support and encouragement from the loudest cheer station on route to help you cross the finish line.
- Inspiration and advice, including a fundraising pack filled with top tips and ideas, from our enthusiastic Challenge Events Team.
- The knowledge that you will be making a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.
How your money helps
By running for #TeamBarnardos you will be making an invaluable difference to the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children, young people and their families.
The figures below show the massive impact that your fundraising could have if you take on this challenge with Barnardo’s:
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£500 could provide a motorised chair for a disabled child.
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£1000 could pay for 100 young people to attend CV training, helping them to get a job.
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£2,000 could pay for 20 prevention education workshops in schools, to educate young people on how to stay safe.
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£2,500 could pay for accommodation and activities for a two-day residential break for up to 25 young carers.
Contact Challenge Events
If you have any questions about the Manchester Marathon or the fundraising requirements, please get in touch with our fundraising team, who will be happy to help.
Phone
Need help with fundraising?
Be a force for good while having fun and raising money. Run, bake, skydive, leap-frog - do something you love to help support children and young people.
"I didn't realise just how important and life-changing Barnardo's support is until [...] my own family needed help."
Jason, a teacher and adoptive dad, talks about his experience of training for the London Marathon and explains why he decided to fundraise for us.
Other ways to get involved with us
When you change a childhood, you change a life. If you're not ready to fundraise, learn about other ways you can help children, young people and families across the UK feel safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful.