THE company that organises the Trafford-based ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon and the Manchester Half Marathon has announced JustGiving as its official fundraising partner.

Race organiser Xtra Mile Events hopes to increase its fundraising totals through the partnership.

Xtra Mile Events is one of the UK’s leading sports events companies and will be celebrating its 10th anniversary season in 2017.

Based in Hale Barns, the company is well known for organizing high profile triathlons, duathlons and running events aimed at athletes of all levels across the North West of England and Wales.

The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon, which will take place on April 2,is the UK’s flattest and fastest marathon, while the Manchester Half Marathon was launched in 2016. These two races produce significant fundraising totals and Xtra Mile Events is looking forward to seeing these figures rise through working with JustGiving.

Race Director, Simon Hill, said: “All of our events at Xtra Mile Events represent considerable sporting achievement and this makes them an ideal platform for charity fundraising.

"We are thrilled to be working with JustGiving across every event to enable competitors to easily raise money for their chosen charity and enhance their experience. With JustGiving’s experience and reputation we are looking forward to maximizing overall charity fundraising and to helping make a difference.

"We are particularly excited to see how the partnership will benefit the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon and the Manchester Half Marathon as these are key events in our diary supporting a number of excellent charities.”

Keith Williams, General Manager at JustGiving, commented: “JustGiving is delighted to be partnering with ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half Marathon to guarantee they raise even more for good causes in 2017. We look forward to working with Xtra Mile Events and maximizing fundraising opportunities for all of their participants across their multi-sport event portfolio by providing industry leading resources. JustGiving is committed to providing world class technology to help all good causes raise even more money and change more lives.”

JustGiving launched in February 2001 to help people support the causes they care about more easily. Fifteen years on, more than £3 billion has been raised for good causes on JustGiving, £1.5 billion of which has come in the past four years.

For the

The ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon, the Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK and Save the Children are the official national charity partners for 2017, whilst the Christie charity and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital are the official local charity partners.

Go to www.greatermanchestermarathon.com for full race details.