Brighton Half Marathon to take place on Sunday, October 10

The Brighton Half Marathon, organised by Brighton-based charity the Sussex Beacon, which provides specialist support and care for people living with HIV, is to take place on Sunday, October 10.

The Brighton Half Marathon, now in its 31st year, was started by a small group of individuals in the early 1990s and the money raised from that very first event was used to help fund the building of the Sussex Beacon. Today, the event is the biggest annual fundraising event for the charity, supporting a specialist HIV care centre in Brighton.

Bill Puddicombe, chief executive of the Sussex Beacon, said: “The Brighton Half Marathon is a big day for the Sussex Beacon, but also for all the other charities, runners and volunteers who help out on the day.”

The race starts for runners at 9am on Madeira Drive before winding its way around some of Brighton’s most iconic sites including the Palace Pier, the Grand Brighton, the Royal Pavilion, West Pier, Brighton Marina, and the colourful Hove Beach Huts.

This year’s event was postponed from its usual slot in February to October 10 due to the pandemic, and the organisers want to thank all the runners, charities and sponsors for their continued support during this difficult year.

This year’s race will be started by Jill Nalder, actress, activist and patron of the Sussex Beacon, best known as the inspiration behind the character Jill Baxter in the Channel 4 series, It’s A Sin.

Jill said: “It’s a real honour to start the Brighton Half Marathon and support the fantastic work the Sussex Beacon does for people living with HIV.

“Events like this are so important, not only as fundraising events for worthwhile charities, but also because they remind us all that HIV still affects many communities around the world. By coming together we can show our support and allyship with the people living with this condition today.”

For more info, visit: www.brightonhalfmarathon.com

More info on the Sussex Beacon: www.sussexbeacon.org.uk