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Royal Parks Half Marathon

Get Inspired: Jen’s Reason for Running

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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Looking for inspiration to get fit and take on a challenge to help spread smiles to seriously ill children? Meet Jennifer, Mum to 9 year old Bay, and find out why she is taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Spread a Smile on Sunday 11 October 2026.

Join Jennifer and sign up for your place today.

“Spread a Smile has supported my daughter, Bay since she was two years old – during her end stage renal failure, kidney transplant and afterwards following her treatment for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).

“Bay is now 9 and Spread a Smile has been a constant for us the whole time – there for Bay but also me and our wider family. The last 7 years have been really challenging, but when I think back, I can think of Spread a Smile in amongst it all and it’s nothing short of wonderful. You forget you’re in hospital when Spread a Smile are around and I can have five minutes to breath as I trust them and know she is safe and entertained with them.

“When Bay is happy, Mummy is happy. Whether it’s through the hospital visits, family events or virtual sessions, they bring familiarity, friendship, love and the sense of normality from just being able to watch your child play and enjoy themselves.

“I’ve been so inspired by what they do for Bay and so many seriously ill children, that I really wanted to give something back and help other families like mine if I can. Spread a Smile are a familiar, warm wonderful and I don’t know what we’d do without them.”

Join Jennifer and register today for your Royal Parks Half Marathon place.

Royal parks half marathon 2025 spread a smile

Team Smile takes the Royal Parks Half Marathon

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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Looking for the 2026 Royal Parks Half Marathon? Click here for our 2026 Charity Places and Ballot Info.

Missed out on the ballot? You can still be on that start line. Skip the uncertainty of the public draw and take a guaranteed charity entry with Spread a Smile. Enjoy vibrant crowds, an incredible atmosphere, and some of the city’s most famous landmarks. Its scenic, predominantly flat course makes it a fantastic choice for both first-time runners and experienced half-marathoners alike. By joining Team Smile, you’ll help raise vital funds to support our work bringing joy to seriously ill children in NHS hospitals across the country.

Read more below about our previous Royal Parks Half Marathon runners for Spread a Smile and get inspired today

On Sunday 12 October, 50 incredible runners proudly represented Spread a Smile at the Royal Parks Half Marathon – one of the UK’s most-loved running events.

Our amazing #TeamSmile runners took on the 13.1-mile route through four of London’s Royal Parks: Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park, and Kensington Gardens, with every step raising funds to support our work spreading smiles to seriously ill children and their families.

Spread a Smile Co-Founder Vanessa Crocker, Chief Executive Officer Lucy Jackson, and members of the team were there on the day to cheer, support, and celebrate each runner’s achievement.

Tasha Mann, Spread a Smile Community Fundraising Manager, said

“To each and every person who ran for Team Smile – thank you. It was incredible to see such a brilliant group come together to raise vital funds for our work. We know how much goes into preparing for an event like this, the training, the fundraising, and the determination it takes on the day itself – and we hope you’re proud of everything you’ve achieved. You’ve helped us bring so much joy to seriously ill children and their families.”

We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who trained, fundraised, and ran as part of Team Smile. Your support means a great deal and helps us reach even more children facing difficult times, and we hope you join us again for another challenge event in the future.

Feeling inspired?
Sign up to our monthly e-newsletter to be the first to hear about exciting challenge events coming in 2026.

Royal Parks Half Marathon places

 780 400 Susie
By:

Looking for the 2026 Royal Parks Half Marathon? Click here for our 2026 Charity Places and Ballot Info.

Missed out on the ballot? You can still be on that start line. Skip the uncertainty of the public draw and take a guaranteed charity entry with Spread a Smile. Enjoy vibrant crowds, an incredible atmosphere, and some of the city’s most famous landmarks. Its scenic, predominantly flat course makes it a fantastic choice for both first-time runners and experienced half-marathoners alike. By joining Team Smile, you’ll help raise vital funds to support our work bringing joy to seriously ill children in NHS hospitals across the country.

Read more below about our previous Royal Parks Half Marathon runners for Spread a Smile and get inspired today

In 2024, 67 runners joined us to take on the beautiful 13.1-mile course on closed roads and within four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.

This was our largest team to date including some of our amazing supporters and fundraisers from the Corinthia Hotel, Mishcon de Reya, Hamilton Court Foreign Exchange, Downing LLP, Blackrock and Convex Insurance.

“What an incredible day to be part of. I loved every second of it and running in aid of Spread a Smile made it all the more special. It was an emotional endurance text which I would 100% do all over again.” Natalie Donaldson, Spread a Smile supporter

This year, we’re excited to be returning to this brilliant event and hope that our supporters will get in touch to be part of something really special.

Register today!

Event date: Sunday 13 October
Registration fee: £30
Minimum sponsorship: £500 (excluding Gift Aid)

Course: Gentle undulations but generally flat course, making it fantastic for both beginners and experienced runners.

Please get in touch with Rimi at rimi@spreadasmile.org for a chat or if you have any questions.

An amazing day at the Royal Parks Half Marathon

 780 400 Susie
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What a brilliant day yesterday with Team Smile for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London!

67 runners joined us to take on the beautiful 13.1-mile course on closed roads and within four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.

This was our largest team to date including some of our amazing supporters and fundraisers, our Head of Family Events, Natalie Donaldson, 28 runners from the Corinthia Hotel and friends from Mishcon de Reya, Hamilton Court Foreign Exchange, Downing LLP, Blackrock and Convex Insurance.

“What an incredible day to be part of. I loved every second of it and running in aid of Spread a Smile made it all the more special. It was an emotional endurance text which I would 100% do all over again.” Natalie Donaldson, Spread a Smile Head of Family Events

It was a beautifully sunny day and we loved welcoming and meeting all our runners in our first ever Spread a Smile marquee. Our Co-founders Josephine Segal and Vanessa Crocker and Chief Executive Lucy Jackson were there on the day along with the Spread a Smile team to cheer everyone on.

Thanks to the incredible support and efforts of our amazing fundraisers, over £29,000 has been raised to support our vital work spreading smiles to seriously ill children and young people in hospital.

A huge thank you to all of our runners. We salute you!

Please email Rimi at rimi@spreadasmile.org to join Team Smile for one of our fundraising challenges, including the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 7 April 2024.

Meet Cary, Spread a Smile fundraiser

 780 400 Susie
By:

On Sunday 8 October an incredible 67 runners will join Team Smile for the Royal Parks Half Marathon. One of our amazing runners is Cary Driscoll who is taking on this beautiful run in aid of Spread a Smile. We spoke to Cary about why he is running and his top tips for fundraising!

Why have you joined Team Smile for the Royal Parks Half Marathon?

 “I came across Spread a Smile back in 2018 when a family friend’s daughter received visits from their entertainers in hospital. I was touched by the concept and the impact it has on the child and their siblings and parents. So, I decided to run the London Marathon for Spread a Smile in 2019 and it made the incredible experience even more special. I’m really looking forward to taking on the Royal Parks Half as well.”

Is this your first half marathon?

“I have run the Royal Parks Half Marathon twice before, (too long ago to remember the first one!) and it is my favourite half marathon. The crowds as you run into the Hyde Park entrance after running past Buckingham Palace has stuck in my mind ever since. I can’t wait to experience this again for Spread a Smile.”

How have you found the training?

“I know that my marathon days are past me due to cumulative injuries to different parts of my legs and feet!  I’ve found training challenging as a new and wonderful heel injury called Plantar Fasciitis which makes walking very painful for days after a run.  I’ve been managing this by reducing the amount of runs I do and gratefully I’m good to go for Sunday. Team Smile have been brilliant at supporting and motivating me in my training and when I think of the families I’m fundraising to support, I know it will all be worth it.”

What are you looking forward to the most?

“I’m really looking forward to waving to the Spread a Smile supporters at Mile 9 and even more so at Mile 12! I know they will bring plenty of smiles and cheers to help me along. It’s great to know I’m part of a big team that are behind each other every step of the way.”

Any tips for fundraising?

“Regular, but not too regular social media reminders, concentrating on the incredible work Spread a Smile do. I find it strikes a chord with many people who were not previously aware of Spread a Smile, and even if the publicity doesn’t result in immediate donations, it will plant a seed for later – for your fundraising or someone else who fund raises for Spread a Smile in the future.”

Good luck to Cary and all our runners. We’ll be there to cheer you on!

If you’re inspired and would like to join Team Smile for future fundraising challenges, please email Rimi at rimi@spreadasmile.org – why not take one of our places for the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April 2024? Find out more here.

Royal Parks Half Marathon

Royal Parks Half Marathon

 1024 829 Susie
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Join Team Smile for the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 8 October 2023.

This incredible half marathon takes in some of the capital’s world-famous landmarks, on closed roads and within four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.

Although undulating in parts, the course is not hilly and is great for both experienced or first time half marathon runners. The added bonus is that you will take in some of the capital’s most historic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade and the Royal Albert Hall, on the way round.

Please contact Rimi at fundraising@spreadasmile.org to grab one of our charity places or if you’ve managed to secure your own place from the race organisers and would like to join our team.

Event date: Sunday 8 October 2023

Minimum fundraising: £450