The London Marathon Charitable Trust celebrates its landmark 40th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion 40 runners – all from organisations that have benefited from the Trust’s funding in the past four decades - will take part in this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon.

Matthew Dawson, Access Sport trustee, is one of the Trust’s 40 runners who will embark on the 26.2 mile route from Greenwich to The Mall, on Sunday 3 October.

The London Marathon Charitable Trust is one of Access Sport’s strategic partners with the Trust having contributed significant funding towards Access Sport’s award-winning Making Trax cycling inclusion programme. Over the last 3 years, grants from the Trust have powered high-impact developments within the programme which aims to drive greater inclusion and diversity within grass-roots cycling. 



In the past year alone, funding from the Trust has contributed to the construction of three new, all-ability cycling facilities in the communities of Harrow and Bexley (London) and Little Hulton, Salford (Greater Manchester). These tracks are now officially open and are fast becoming vibrant community cycling hubs serving their local communities. A fourth site supported by the Trust is currently under construction in Stockwood (Bristol) and a fifth will open in Hillsborough Park (Sheffield) early in 2022.

Access Sport has recently distributed additional funding from the Trust directly to community cycling groups in London to help them recover from the pandemic. This has helped them run activities in the most deprived areas of the city, enabling them to buy extra equipment, removing other cost barriers and providing training for coaches.

Julian Barell, Deputy CEO, Access Sport says:

Our partnership with the London Marathon Charitable Trust has literally enabled thousands of under-served and disadvantaged young people to take up cycling over the past three years – especially so during the last 18 months when outdoor exercise has been of paramount importance but opportunities have been in overall decline. We are so grateful to the Trust for all their support, culminating in this marathon place for our wonderful trustee Matthew – go Matthew!

Joe McTague, Delivery Director, Making Trax Cycling Programme says:

Without the support of the London Marathon Charitable Trust we would not have been able to achieve the impact we have. Their support has allowed us to take our cycling inclusion programme into some of the most deprived communities of London, Bristol, Manchester and Sheffield, providing cycle training to those that can’t yet cycle, access to bikes for those that don’t have their own, new and exciting places to ride, off-road, for free and new community clubs to enjoy with new friends in their community

Congratulations to The London Marathon Charitable Trust on its 40^th Anniversary!

Image left: Joe Thompson, Facilities Grants Lead LMCT, Image right: Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor and Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman of LMCT 

Matthew Dawson, Access Sport trustee, takes on the 2021 Virgin London Marathon

This year’s Marathon is set to be the largest marathon ever staged anywhere in the world, with up to 50,000 runners on the traditional course from Greenwich to The Mall and up to 50,000 participants completing the 26.2 miles on the course of their choice anywhere in the world between 00:00 and 23:59:59 BST. It will be televised live on BBC TV and broadcast around the globe.

Access Sport will be cheering on trustee Matthew Dawson, who is completing the marathon as the final phase of a gruelling triathlon. Matthew has already cycled 335km from the East to the West coast of the UK in June and completed a 17km swim in Lake Windemere in August.

Matthew embarked on his triathlon as part of ‘Tri With Access Sport’ – Access Sport’s summer campaign which aims to inspire people to be more physically active by taking on a physical challenge.

Matthew has raised over £3,900 for Access Sport and the overall campaign total now stands at over £15,200.

All funds raised will help Access Sport create new opportunities in sport for disabled children and those from under-served communities.

Physical activity is a big part of my life and if I’ve inspired others to get involved then that’s a great feeling! 

 Matthew Dawson

To make a donation to the campaign or to sponsor Matthew as he prepares for his marathon, click here.
To find out more about Tri With Access Sport or to join in, click here

With special thanks to the specialist change consultancy, Sullivan & Stanley

Who match-funded the first £5,000 worth of donations, kick-starting the campaign.

Thank you also to our fantastic corporate teams for your support

VSL & Partners, Tilney, Smith & Williamson, Arrow Business Communications and Freedom Finance.