Event industry foundation Meeting Needs is aiming to top a quarter of a million pounds from runners and walkers generating sponsorship of the Royal Parks Half Marathon this year since the foundation began participating annually a decade ago.

Meeting Needs has signed up 28 participants already for the October event and is looking for another 12 to join the team. Meeting Needs trustee Kate Conway, who manages the team participation each year, said: “We have a great team spirit among our participants and we even have couples joining us like Esther Clark and Chris Middleton and Thomas Diaz and Imane Amrani. I am hoping to fill the remaining slots in the next few weeks so they have plenty of time left for raising cash!

“Ryan Doyle and Sigita Pjampite are colleagues from Switch and are the Sales Dream Team while Chris Xenophontos – another foundation trustee and a regular runner- is currently the lead fundraiser with £480. He led the field early last year, too, but was overhauled by Charlotte Bliss by champion fund-raiser Charlottee Bliss at the end.

For the first time this year we have a runner from Center Parcs, Hermione Cole, whereas Maris Kuklis is one of the stalwarts who runs often for the Meeting Needs team.

To join the Meeting Needs team, contact Kate Conway at kconway@meetingneeds.org.uk