Back in 2010 there were far less marathons around in the north of England than there are today, no Chester, Liverpool nor Manchester to name a few. I used to travel long distances to run one. This gave me the idea of holding my own event for local runners. I also wanted to offer a challenge that was more than just a marathon and the Gin Pit Double Marathon was born.
The start of day 1 of the first ever Gin Pit Marathon 2011
There was actually another very important reason for setting it up, it was to raise money for a fairly small and relatively unknown charity called the Brathay Trust, who operate from Brathay Hall, near Ambleside in the Lake District. Saying that they have been around doing their charity work for over 70 years. They run many programmes all aimed at helping young people who are struggling in life and society. They also run two outdoor centres in the Lake District for Wigan Council, called Low Bank Ground and Hinning House, where many local school children go to see the wonderful Lake District and experience lots of outdoor activities. These trips give children skills and experiences that will stay with them for a life time. If it wasn’t for Brathay these places would have be closed by the council. Every year Brathay work with over 5000 children and young people, improving their quality of life, which if it wasn’t for Brathay they may never get the chance.
Gin Pit Marathon on Guided Busway 2019
Back to the Gin Pit Marathon, it is run on the lowest of budgets with very few volunteers, many who help me year in, year out and I must truly thank. Without them it wouldn’t happen. This small set up is what helps me keep the entry cost to a minimum, half the cost of many other marathon events. No one involved in the Gin Pit Marathon gets any money from the Gin Pit Marathon, all proceeds go to the Brathay Trust.
Bearing the above in mind the “Event Rules” are simple and clear:-
No Refunds:
These are messy and time consuming and don’t help me raise money for charity. Also Paypal takes a small percentage so I don’t get the whole entry fee. I could charge extra to cover this fee but as I said before I want to keep the entry costs minimal.
Not Deferrals:
I want to be raising money for Brathay and if I continue to run the event the next year again I want to be raising money not offering FREE places from the previous year. This does not help fundraising.
Should the event be cancelled, all proceeds will go to the Brathay Trust.
I put money into the event to organise it whether it goes ahead or not. The event can’t make a loss and I will donate its proceeds to Brathay. To this end should the race be cancelled there will be no refund or deferrals but you can be assured all proceeds will go to Brathay.
These rules were clearly stated when runners entered in big letters on the entry form of the event website.
Please consider your entry fee as a charitable donation to the Brathay Trust to help them with their wonder work with children and young people. If you run the Gin Pit you are not only taking on the “Only single loop double marathon in the UK”, if not the world but helping young people. Annually the Gin Pit Marathon raises about £2000 for the Brathay Trust.
If you have entered I hope you understand and appreciate these charitable reasons for the event.
If you have entered and can’t make this year’s event, could I ask you to consider it as a charitable donation and let me know. I have a waiting list and could sell your place again. I’m not being greedy but trying to help runners on my waiting list have the opportunity to run and at the same time raise more money for Brathay.
We are hearing many large marathon events are being cancelled due to Corona virus. I fully intend to still hold the Gin Pit Double Marathon as it is not a mass participation event but please be aware if something happens in the next two weeks that’s closed the Welfare Cub or my volunteers or I get the virus then I may have no choice but the cancel/postpone.
Should you not be able to run and would still like to support the Brathay trust and its work then I would welcome a donation on my JustGiving page, your donation will go directly to supporting the Brathay Trust. In an effort to raise further money for Brathay, I’m entered in their Brathay 10 marathon in 10 days challenge for the 7th time this May. I only had a knee operation last week so the pressure is on me to even get ready for the start line on day 1! If I do complete it then I will create a record of having done it more times than anyone else ever!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/malc10in10x7
