The 2024 London Marathon set a new world record by raising £73.5 million, marking the highest-ever total for a one-day fundraising event. The final amount was

confirmed this week, five months after the marathon took place.

Initial figures released through fundraising platforms JustGiving and Enthuse shortly after the event in April had already indicated that this year would break previous records. Since its inception in 1981, the London Marathon has generated more than £1.3 billion for various charities. The previous record was set in 2019, when the event raised £66.4 million.

"We applaud every participant who contributed to this record-breaking total of £73.5 million for the thousands of charities that offer essential services to so many people," said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events.

Of the total raised, £30 million came through the Enthuse platform, reflecting a 60% increase compared to 2023. Chester Mojay-Sinclare, Enthuse’s CEO, emphasized the importance of charities, stating, "This remarkable fundraising total reflects people's deep appreciation for the vital role charities play in the UK."

This year, the event's Charity of the Year was the Samaritans, which anticipates raising a total of £2.8 million from its partnership with the London Marathon over the coming years. Sonya Trivedy, the charity's Executive Director of External Engagement, described the partnership as a milestone for the organization. "We are incredibly grateful to all our 2024 London Marathon runners and partners, who have already helped raise over £1.1 million, four times the amount we typically raise through the marathon."

Pancreatic Cancer UK has been named the official charity partner for the 2025 marathon. Previous charity partners include the British Heart Foundation, which raised £2.3 million in 2022. Photo by Katie Chan, Wikimedia commons.