FAQs

There are two ways you can run for Oxfam. You can buy a place directly from Oxfam by filling in our Charity Place form, or you can secure your place directly from the race organisers and then fill in our Own Place form to tell us you would like to use it to run as part of the Oxfam team.

Your sponsorship will go towards our work to create a fairer, safer, and better world for millions of people. Thanks to the generous donations we receive, Oxfam is able to continue its work with local communities in 94 countries around the world. Find out more about the difference you can make.

If you have successfully paid your entry fee and received an email confirming this, then you definitely have an Oxfam place (pending registration with the organisers of that race). If you have applied but have not paid an entry fee then you need to ensure the fee is paid before the place is definitely confirmed as yours.

London Marathon applications are a little different. They are reviewed before we offer places. If you have applied for a place then you should wait to be contacted by us to offer you a place. Once you've paid and received your email, the place is yours (again pending registration).

No. Only fill out the own place running form if you have already purchased a place from the event organisers. If you require a place in an event fill out our Charity Place application form.

Entry fees help cover the costs of having charity place runners in running events so that more of your fundraising goes to Oxfam's life-saving work. Entry fee amounts vary from race to race, and we don't charge entry fees for any of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival races.

Oxfam has a number of places in running events which are available to apply for. Oxfam Charity Place Runners are required to pay a registration fee and to make a minimum fundraising pledge. 

We need to cover the costs that come with having charity place runners at events. The registration fee and pledge ensure that Oxfam can take part in these events and maximise the funds that go directly to Oxfam's work.

Every Oxfam runner will receive an Oxfam running pack, including an Oxfam running vest and letters for personalisation. We'll also give you email and phone support from Oxfam's dedicated Events team. Runners taking part in our main events will also receive regular e-newsletters containing running tips and fundraising advice, and will be cheered on the day by a fantastic race day team. Check out the event profiles for information about individual race day support.

Your very own green Oxfam running vest (with iron-on letters to personalise it) and a selection of fantastic fundraising materials including sponsorship forms, stickers and a great fundraising guide.

Your money from online fundraising pages gets automatically sent through to Oxfam. If you have any additional offline sponsorship you can pay this in either by calling the Events team on 0300 200 1244 or by sending in a cheque with Oxfam's paying-in form. Make sure you clearly communicate your contact details and which event you ran in.

Unfortunately it is inevitable that, with so many runners, some people will get injured in training for a race. What happens next depends on how you got your place and what race you are doing.

If you are using your 'own place' to run for Oxfam (i.e. you obtained it directly from the organisers of that race) you simply need to let them know you can no longer take part. From there it is their decision as to whether you can take up your place the following year. We'd also appreciate it if you could let us know so we know how many runners to expect on the day.

If you got a 'charity place' in the race (i.e. you obtained your place through Oxfam) then you can usually defer that place to the following year as long as you let us know before the registration deadline for that race. If you let us know after the registration deadline then unfortunately we cannot guarantee a deferral.

We also cannot guarantee a deferral for those dropping out of the London Marathon, whatever stage they're at in the lead up to the race. This is because we have an ever-decreasing number of places available.

Get in touch! We'll be more than happy to help. Email events@oxfam.org.uk or call 0300 200 1244 and we'll answer your query as soon as we can.