London Gatwick Airport proudly announces its successful fundraising efforts through the annual Run Gatwick event, which helped raise more than £10,000 for local charities. The airport donated 200 charity relay places for the event, enabling participants to support Magic Breakfast, a charity that provides free breakfasts to disadvantaged school children.
The 5km charity relay, held during the Run Gatwick event, required teams of two to raise funds for Magic Breakfast. Participants enthusiastically embraced the cause, contributing to the provision of 1,600 healthy breakfasts for vulnerable school children facing hunger on a daily basis.
Run Gatwick, a popular Run Series event, also featured a 10km race option this year. It offered participants a unique opportunity to run closer to a live airfield than any other running event in the UK, with the route taking them along Perimeter Road South, adjacent to London Gatwick’s main runway.
A number of London Gatwick Airport staff members actively participated in the event to support the airport’s official charity partners, including Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH Charity), and Gatwick TravelCare. In addition to participating, Gatwick also sponsored the Racecrew, a group of dedicated volunteers who assisted with marshalling, manning the bag drop and water stations, and setting up the event village.
Melanie Wrightson, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at London Gatwick, expressed her delight in sponsoring Run Gatwick once again, emphasizing the event’s positive impact on the local community and its contribution to vital fundraising for important charities. She extended her congratulations to all the participants and expressed gratitude to those who chose to raise funds for Gatwick’s official charity partners, as well as those who utilized the 200 charity relay places donated by the airport to support Magic Breakfast and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children in the local Gatwick area.
David Kelly, Event Director of Run Gatwick, conveyed his thrill at the extended community partnership with London Gatwick, which allowed participants to run alongside the live runway of the UK’s second-largest airport. He praised the aviation-themed running experience, which supported well-being, community engagement, and essential local charity fundraising. Kelly expressed his gratitude to the London Gatwick team for their fundraising efforts and the enthusiastic support provided by the volunteer Racecrew.
Sustainability was a key focus of this year’s Run Gatwick event. In collaboration with SES Water, recyclable paper cups were used to provide water along the route, sourced from the domestic water supply and a specialist tanker at the finish. This initiative eliminated the use of 24,000 single-use plastic bottles, promoting environmental responsibility.
London Gatwick Airport also demonstrated its commitment to supporting local charities by sponsoring the East Grinstead leg of the recent Mid Sussex Marathon in April. Gatwick staff members actively participated in the three-day event, raising funds for various charitable causes.
Supporting local charities aligns with London Gatwick’s sustainability policy, Decade of Change. Since 2015, the airport has raised over £1 million for its official charity partners, contributing significantly to the betterment of the community.
In addition to its philanthropic efforts, Gatwick is actively investing in its long-term future. The airport is currently preparing a planning application to bring the Northern Runway into regular use for departures, alongside its Main Runway. This low-impact plan aims to improve resilience, reduce delays, and stimulate the national and regional economy by supporting trade, tourism, and the creation of new jobs.
