A4D Royal Parks Half Marathon April 2021

The Royal Parks Half Marathon 2020 Special Edition, will now be run on April 11, 2021 as a virtual event.  Running for Arts 4 Dementia, you can help to transform the lives of people with dementia and their carers through artistic stimulation which overrides symptoms and empowers them to rekindle fulfilling, active lives in the community.

About Arts 4 Dementia

Arts engagement has a huge impact on people affected by dementia, offering inspiration, a sense of joy and purpose and boosting self confidence - and can delay progression of symptoms.

Arts 4 Dementia was founded in 2011 and develops arts programmes to empower, re-energise and inspire people with early stage dementia and carers through challenging artistic stimulation, to help them live better for longer in their own homes. Our signposting website lists and maps local arts events nationwide for people living with dementia in the community, serving both those often desperate for stimulation and providers.

Our early stage and dementia awareness training for arts facilitators enables them to deliver effective workshops.  The 700+ arts facilitators trained to date will in 2020 deliver arts events to over 13,000 people affected by dementia and their carers.

A4D focuses on what people can achieve, often much more than they imagine.    

For runners

You will need to set a target of £500 (with a minimum pledge of £350) and pay a donation of £25 through the A4D website to register.

If you like the idea of running and raising funds for A4D, and would like to run for us in the 2020 Royal Parks Half Marathon Special Edition, now to be run on 11 April 2021, email admin@arts4dementia.org.uk, put RUN RPHM  in the subject line and be sure to include in the text your full name and mobile. This popular half marathon has won the Best Outdoor Event at the renowned Event Awards, and last year’s ballot was oversubscribed NINE times!

If you would like to run, contact us right away!

Runners can be part of this ground-breaking day by running the race distance in their local area, in support of A4D. This unique digital experience will celebrate green spaces the length and breadth of the country, with runners coming together to provide critical fundraising for their chosen charities. 

Working with a customised app, the Royal Parks Half will provide runners with as much of a race day experience as possible using digital integrations. Through the app, runners will experience the atmosphere of race day through custom audio cues and augmented reality that will bring the iconic race course to life as they run in their local area.

All runners will be sent a premium race pack prior to race day with their race bib, sustainable water bottle, courtesy of RBC, and medal. After you complete the race and submit your time through the app, your finisher shirt that commemorates this unique year will be sent to you.  To recreate the event day experience, race morning will incorporate an online warm-up and messages of support from notable faces before the race officially gets underway at 9am on Sunday 11 April. Runners are encouraged to find open space and connect with nature, all whilst following the latest government guidance on social distancing.

There will be an interactive leader board during the race, and upon completing the Half Marathon runners will have their times registered on the Royal Parks Half app. The standard winner categories will be awarded as usual, in addition to a new non-binary field.

Project Lead at The Royal Parks, Persephone Deacon-Cole, commented: “Supporting charities in need during this time is more important than ever before. The Royal Parks Half was created in 2008 to raise sustainable funds for The Royal Parks and enable charities of all sizes to be involved in a major challenge event.”

“The impact of Covid on the mass participation sports industry has had significant repercussions for ourselves and our charity partners. We hope this one-of-a-kind digital experience will excite runners across the nation and encourage them to support the charity of their choice.”