A POPULAR city marathon is set to fill the streets with runners for a sixth year running this April.

ABP Southampton Marathon expects to bring in 10,000 runners, with races starting and finishing in the heart of Southampton’s city centre and crossed the Itchen Bridge.

The course will also involve passing through the iconic local landmarks, including the Bargate and St Mary’s Stadium.

Last year, over 9,000 runners took part in the half marathon and 10K run.

Many of those taking part choose to run in the ABP Southampton Marathon in aid of national and local charities.

There are TWO charities you can run in support of during this year's event:

Southampton Hospital Charity

Daily Echo:

This charity aims to enhance the world class care and treatment of patients at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and Princess Anne Hospital by raising funds and providing financial support to areas of the hospital service that lie beyond the scope of NHS funding.

This year will be its third year of continued partnership with the popular race and has been named as its Lead Local Charity for this year's marathon.

Kelly Metcalfe, from Southampton Hospital Charity, said: “Sponsoring the ABP Southampton Marathon is the highlight of our events calendar. The race is a great opportunity for us to engage our supporters on home turf and is proving ever popular, with growing numbers of our supporters taking on the challenge."

To run for Southampton Hospital Charity, visit https://www.abpsouthamptonhalf.co.uk/run-for-charity/run-for-southampton-hospital-charity/.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Daily Echo:

Running as the Lead National Charity of this year's marathon, it will be the fifth time that Macmillan Cancer Support are putting on their racing shoes for the event.

Southampton runners have raised over £60,000 for the charity since the partnership started.

The charity provide support to people with cancer, from help with getting back to work after receiving treatment to providing support for loneliness and isolation, finances and body image.

Izzy Campbell, challenge events officer for Macmillan, said: “In 2020, 40,000 people will be living with cancer in England alone. By 2030 the number people living with cancer in England will be near 34,0000.

"We need to raise more money than ever to support this huge growth and we can’t do this without dedicated fundraisers."

To run for Macmillan, visit https://www.abpsouthamptonhalf.co.uk/run-for-charity/run-for-macmillan/.

Run for a charity of your choice

Daily Echo:

Although there are two main charities that can be supported during ABP Southampton Marathon 2020, runners can choose to fundraise for a charity close to their heart.

Hampshire resident Penny Mills is including the marathon in her personal mission to complete 12 half marathons in 12 months, in aid of stillbirth and neonatal death charity SANDS.

SANDS is a charity with a mission to “reduce the number of babies dying and to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it wherever they are in the UK”.

To find out more about running for charity, visit https://www.abpsouthamptonhalf.co.uk/run-for-charity/.