Beating The Black Market

3 MAR2011

Organisers of the SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon are asking runners unable to take part in the event to donate their race number to charity and prevent an internet black market. Concerns have been raised after the race limit of 5,500 was reached three weeks ago - more than 11 weeks ahead of the event.

With some runners inevitably suffering injury and no longer able to compete on May 8, organisers are asking runners to authorise reallocation of their race number. Doing so would prevent illegal sales online causing a health risk. A running number holding inaccurate medical information may mean the wrong medication is administered. It would also mean the cost of the number would be donated directly to the 10 official charities, contributing to what is hoped to be a record breaking fundraising year. Sheffield Half Marathon has added a legal transfer system to its website to address the problem and keep within the UK Athletics standards.

Ian Thomas, entries coordinator for the Sheffield Half Marathon, said: "This year's Sheffield Half Marathon will be a record-breaking year and we understand this will leave a few disappointed faces so we've come up with a way to legally reallocate numbers to a waiting list.

"It is against UK Athletics rules to run using a number which does not include your medical details so we urge any runner to come to us through the website to make sure everyone is safe."

The SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, May 8 at the Don Valley Stadium, and will follow a route through the city centre, along Ecclesall Road returning to the city via Devonshire Green, past the Town Hall and Ponds Forge International Sports Centre before finishing in the stadium.

The chosen charities for 2011 are Sheffield Teenage Cancer Trust, Motor Neurone Disease Association South Yorkshire, British Heart Foundation for South Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire, Myasthenia Gravis Association South Yorkshire, St Luke's Hospice Sheffield, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre South Yorkshire, Sheffield Wildlife Trust, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind and Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice.

For more information contact the event website, call 0845 388 3438 or email entries@sheffieldmarathon.com