Event partners team up to help cared for children experience ‘Britain’s most beautiful’ running weekend

Organisers and partners behind a popular Northumberland running festival have teamed up to offer a unique opportunity to a group of children in care to experience ‘Britain’s most beautiful’ marathon. The Altra Kielder Marathon weekend will take place on 3 and 4 October, and includes a series of senior and junior races. Headline sponsor Altra has donated some running shoes to allow event partner Northumberland County Council to kit out some young people in care and take them along to be part of this year’s event.

Founded in 2010, the Altra Kielder Marathon is known as ‘Britain’s most beautiful’ and follows a route around Kielder Water, taking in much of the Lakeside Way. Over the years, the event has grown into a two-day festival of running that also includes a half marathon, 10K, gravel duathlon (run-bike-run) and junior runs. It is organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Northumbrian Water, Forestry England, Northumberland County Council, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and official charity partner 4 Louis.

Northumberland County Council has been a major supporter of the Kielder Marathon since day one and has renewed its commitment to the event in 2026. As part of this year’s partnership, the council will fund six places at the weekend’s junior runs through a link with Hexham Youth Partnership, with the aim of helping young people develop skills, confidence and an enjoyment of getting active. Leading sports brand Altra has now stepped in to supply each child with a pair of its high performance running shoes. Former international athlete Allison Curbishley is an event director at the Altra Kielder Marathon and this week delivered the shoes to the council, and met some of the young people who will be running in October.

Allison Curbishley comments: “We put a lot of effort into making sure that the junior races at the Altra Kielder Marathon have a big event atmosphere. It’s always great to see young people making the most of the occasion and enjoying their running. So it’s brilliant that Northumberland County Council is going to help even more kids have that experience and we’re delighted that Altra has stepped up to kit them out. I had a great time meeting the young people and look forward to welcoming them to stunning Kielder in a couple of months.”

Nick Hardy of Altra adds: “Altra is passionate about helping more people discover the freedom, confidence and enjoyment that can come from being active outdoors. With so many competing interests, we have to work hard to inspire and motivate youngsters, but doing that is more important than ever. We are delighted to provide some of our shoes and work with the Kielder Marathon team and Northumberland County Council to give these children the opportunity to take part in October, and feel like they belong. Hopefully, the experience will be the start of a lifelong love of getting active in the outdoors.”

Cllr Wendy Pattison, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities at Northumberland County Council, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Kielder Marathon once again. This partnership is about more than a race; it’s about opening up opportunities for young people in our county who may not otherwise get the chance to take part in iconic sporting events like this.

“By funding junior run places for children in Northumberland, we are showing our commitment to grassroots sport, health and wellbeing, and stronger communities across the county.”

For more information about the Altra Kielder Marathon events, and to book race places, visit www.kieldermarathon.com.