TCS London Marathon 2026

Take on the challenge of a lifetime! Run the TCS London Marathon, to bring comfort to patients and support life-saving projects.
The TCS London Marathon is a world-renowned race with an iconic route through the heart of the city, drawing runners from around the world to run 26.2 miles past famous landmarks like the Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace. At the heart of the TCS London Marathon lies a powerful spirit of community, generosity, and kindness – values that NHS Lothian Charity proudly shares.
Apply for one of our charity places.
We only have 2 charity places available for our incredible supporters. Applications close at 11:59pm on Monday the 11th of August.

Already have your own place?
We would love you to run for us! Click on the button below and complete our short form to let us know about your place.

Apply for one of our Charity Places
We’re thrilled to be part of the 2026 event and are excited to offer two charity places to our incredible supporters, helping us champion our NHS Lothian staff and improve health and wellbeing across Edinburgh and the Lothians. So, if you were unsuccessful in the ballot, you still have a chance to run for a cause that matters to you.
To apply, simply complete our short application form. We’d love to hear from runners who want to make a difference to the lives of NHS Lothian patients, their families and staff. Applications close at 11:59pm, on Monday the 11th of August.
- Minimum sponsorship: £2,650
- Entry Fee: £100
We’ll contact shortlisted applicants by phone for a short conversation before charity places are allocated in September. If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll let you know between the end of August and the start of September.
Make every mile matter. Run to support NHS Lothian patients, families and staff.
Got your own ballot place? Run for NHS Lothian Charity
If you have a ballot place in the marathon and want to fundraise for NHS Lothian Charity, we’d love to support you! Complete our own place registration form and we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Thanks for choosing to fundraise for us! Let us know you’re running to support NHS Lothian patients, families, and staff by filling in our own place registration form and we’ll be here with plenty of support to help you reach your goal.
Everything you need for an unforgettable run
From the moment you join our team of #CharityChampions, we’ll support you every step of the way. Whether it’s your first marathon or your fifteenth, we’ll equip you with everything you need to enjoy the incredible atmosphere, make your run a success, and make your fundraising efforts a triumph.
Every runner who signs up with NHS Lothian Charity will receive:
- An official NHS Lothian Charity #ThankYouNHS running top
- NHS Lothian Charity medal
- NHS Lothian Charity water bottle
- Bags of support
You’ll also receive incredible support, and an an amazing race-day experience thanks to the official London Marathon team, including:
- An Event Pack:
- Includes your all-important bib number, safety pins, and kit bag for the bag drop. This must be collected at the London Marathon Running Show at ExCeL London before race day.
- Finisher’s Medal & T-Shirt: All finishers receive a commemorative medal and a finisher’s T-shirt to celebrate their achievement.
- Official Timing & Results: Your race time is officially recorded and published, with split times available throughout the course.
- On-Course Support:
- Water and energy drink stations
- Medical support and first aid
- Toilets and sanitary supplies
- Sensory calm spaces and multi-faith prayer areas
- Training Resources:
- Access to official training plans and the Coopah training app to help you prepare.
- Fundraising Tools:
- If running for charity, you can use the official platform, Enthuse, to set up your fundraising page.
Useful things to know
Yes.
If your application is successful, we will send you a link to pay the £100 entry fee.
Please note, you must be over 18 to use our online payment facility. If the event participant is under 18, the legal guardian should complete the payment process and agree to the Fundraising Events Terms and Conditions on the participant’s behalf.
We have two charity places available.
To apply, simply complete our short application form and tell us a little about why want to make a difference to the lives of NHS Lothian patients, their families and staff.
Applications close at 11:59pm, on Sunday the 11th of August.
We’ll contact shortlisted applicants by phone for a short conversation before charity places are allocated in September. If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll let you know between the end of August and the start of September.
Yes, all successful applicants must commit to a minimum fundraising target of £2,650.
You will also need to meet key fundraising milestones: raise 25% of your fundraising target by January 2026, 50% by March 2026, 85% by event day and 100% 4 weeks after event day.
These milestones are designed to support you throughout your journey—helping you stay motivated, track your progress, and reach your target with confidence.
Every pound you raise helps us provide enhanced care and comfort for NHS Lothian patients and support our incredible NHS staff. We’ll be here to help you every step of the way with tips, tools, and encouragement!
We’ve got you covered! Once you sign up, you’ll receive:
- Helpful tools, tips and encouragement on the run up to the event
- Ongoing support from our friendly fundraising team
- A dedicated contact for any questions or encouragement you need
Participants must be at least 18 years old on the day of the event.
If you’re under 18 before the day of the event, a parent or guardian will be required to agree to our Fundraising Event Terms and Conditions on your behalf. And if successful, a parent or guardian will also need to complete the payment process for the entry fee on your behalf.
Find out more about the TCS London Marathon by visiting tcslondonmarathon.com
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