Midnight runway raises £50,000

Now in its third year, Heathrow’s Midnight Runway Marathon has raised a record-breaking £50,000 for charity.

More than 350 runners from the airport’s Baggage, IT and Security teams, as well as colleagues from Ferrovial and other airport partners took part in the marathon which took place on Heathrow’s northern runway – after the airport closed for the day. 55 volunteers also gave up their time to make this year’s event a success.

The Midnight Marathon consists of 12-person relay teams, in which each team member is required to run a 2.2 mile stretch of Heathrow’s northern runway within a 16-minute time limit. The Marathon also includes a fun run section, where participants are able to run as many lengths as they can within the same time limit.

Fast track

The ‘Security Fast Track’ team led by Heathrow’s Security Director, Tom Willis, won fastest team with a time of 03:14:27, beating ‘Finance & Procurement Athletic’ by seven seconds. This year’s fastest runner was Patrick Lucas, an intern with Heathrow’s finance team, who ran his 2.2 mile stretch within a record time of 11 minutes and 21 seconds.

The funds raised will be split equally between four charities, Oxfam, Help for Heroes, Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support (HACS) and the Heathrow Community Fund which supports a variety of local projects and charity initiatives.

Our charities

• Oxfam

Since joining forces in 2013, Heathrow has helped fund Oxfam projects such as: providing safe clean drinking water, setting up people with their own businesses, campaigning for women’s rights, helping equip schools and train teachers, help establish health care centres providing free health care for those in need.

• Help for Heroes

Many Heathrow employees have close links with the armed forces. Their funds raised through the Midnight Marathon will provide better support for British servicemen and women by supporting projects such as the Personnel Recovery Centres, which help injured soldiers adapt into the next phase of their lives.

• Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support (HACS)
  

HACS is local charity based in the London borough of Hillingdon for children and young people on the autism spectrum. Through provision of high quality Family Support, Training, Recreation Services and Employability services the aim of the charity is to minimise disability and maximise ability of autistic individuals.

• Heathrow Community Fund

Heathrow Community Fund is part of the independently run grant-making charity LHR Airport Communities Trust, which receives funding from Heathrow Airport Limited, noise fines and other funders, as well as funding from Heathrow staff via their fundraising activities. Through the Heathrow Community Fund grant programme, the Fund has supported significant and positive change for communities near the airport for the past 20 years.