The Bank of America Chicago Marathon!

The Bank of America Chicago Mararthon!



The Get Kids Going! team had not one, but two fantastic races on Sunday October 11, 2009. A small Get Kids Going! team participated in The Bank of America Chicago Marathon through Chicago’s beautiful Grant Park. The Get Kids Going! charity had 8 gracious runners who flew from England to America to raise money for our disabled children.


The weather, unlike the past two years, was cold, hovering around -4 C, but was good for running. Get Kids Going! Runner and Chicago Marathon participant Steve Clark told Get Kids Going! that, “people handled the weather well. Once you got started running your body warmed up.” Over 35,000 runners participated in this year’s race, and the amount of money raised during the marathon has not been counted yet. But Get Kids Going! hopes to have raised over £5,000 pounds. Sign up for next year's race by calling Get Kids Going! at 020 7481 8110

The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon

Get Kids Going! had a fantastic team of runners in this year's Royal Parks Foundation London Half Marathon. Over 250 runners kindly ran for Get Kids Going!

The field of runners included Sue McAlister (pictured here on right) with the CEO of Get Kids Going Jane!

The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon took place on Sunday on October 11, 2009 through London’s beautiful Hyde Park. The weather was good for running--cool but dry. The run started in Hyde Park, and continued by many historical landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Admiralty Arch, and circled back to finish at the start point. Members of the Get Kids Going! team celebrated the end of the race by returning to the team tent, and enjoying victory refreshments for them and their families.

The overall race consisted of 15,000 runners who helped meet the race organizer's goal to raise over £2 million for charity. The Get Kids Going! team had a very successful race, hoping to have raised over £40,000 to provide wheelchairs for the many disabled children who need our help of reaching their dreams of one day being able to play sports. Sign up for next year’s team in the Royal Park Half Marathon at http://www.getkidsgoing.com/applynow.htm or call the Get Kids Going office at 020 7481 8110.

Run to the Beat 2009

Run to the Beat is a unique new London Half Marathon with over 19 music stations around the course. It's sponsored by Sony Ericsson and will be staged in September this year. Get Kids Going! has over 700 entry places for this fantastic run.

To enter visit our page on Run to the Beat 2009 or call 0207 481 8110

Run Paris Marathon 2009 for Get Kids Going!

We have lots of guaranteed entry places available for the Paris Marathon 2009 just waiting to be filled! So if you are looking for a great alternative to the Flora London Marathon, this would be just the ticket.


The Paris Marathon takes place on Sunday 5th April 2009. It's a fantastic race taking which starts from the Champs Élysées Avenue to Foch Avenue running through Bastille, Nation, Vincennes and les Tuileries. Last year 37,000 competitors took part representing 93 countries.

Get Kids Going! is a unique, national charity that gives disabled children and young people the wonderful opportunity of participating in sport. By running the Paris Marathon for us, you can help us to turn their dreams into reality.

Entry details for the Paris Marathon are on our website, please apply online or call us on 0207 481 8110 and we'll send you an entry pack.

David Weir awarded MBE

World record holder and Get Kids Going!'s Vice President David Weir has been nominated for an MBE in the Queen’s New Years honours. David received the honour for his services to disabled sport.

This is a double award for David who became BBC London 2008 disabled athlete in December. David spends much of his time encouraging disabled children to get involved in sport by visiting schools and training sessions.


In an interview with Sutton Guardian he said "Sport gives confidence to young people, particularly disabled children and it's a great buzz to see them taking it up, especially wheelchair racing.

"I get a real boost giving them advice and then seeing them do well and its good to see disabled sport getting more funding and coverage.

"I do feel slightly weird about this nomination as I feel I'm just normal David Weir.

"Sometimes I get asked for my authograph and it is a strange experience, but I do enjoy being a role model for disabled sport."

At Get Kids Going! we'd like to congratulate David for his MBE and thank him for the great work he does for our charity.

Get Kids Going! 2008 Athletes Roundup

Get Kids Going! young disabled athletes had a fantastic year in 2008. David Weir who has been supported by the charity for over 5 years won two Paralympic Gold Medals in wheelchair racing at the Beijing Paralympics in October. David also went on to win a Silver and Bronze Medal! So in total David won 4 paralympic medals for his country and Get Kids Going!



Matt Skelhon, another young Get Kids Going! disabled athlete won the only gold medal in the shooting at Bejing Parlaympics. Matt is a member of the Get Kids Going! athletes team when the charity supports him by providing Matt with a shooting sport wheelchair at a cost of £3,000.

Shelly Woods from Blackpool won a Silver Medal at the Beijing Paralympics along with Mickey Bushell. Both are Get Kids Going! young disabled athletes and are two of the best wheelchair racers in the world.

Get Kids Going! is also providing Tim Farr, Ben Sneesby and Pam with Monoskis so they can all take part in this season disable skiing in the Alps and America. The mono skis cost a min. of £3,000 each. All three will be taking part in the British Land Championships at Meribel from March 29th to April 4th. Ben will also be skiing at Villars 24hr Skiing comp, Brookie Bowl Courcheval and a weeks training in Andorra. Pam, age 28yrs lives in Scotland, Aberdeen. Ben, age 13yrs lives a High Wycombe in Bucks and Tim, age 23yrs, lives in Twickenham, London. All three hope to compete at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic Games for Get Kids Going! and Great Britain.

David Weir on A Question of Sport

Paralympic Champion David Weir and Get Kids Going!'s Vice President was on the BBC's A Question of Sport on 12th December 2008.


He was part of the popular quiz show with team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell. Also on the show were French rugby star Raphael Ibanez, Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Olympic gymnastic silver medallist Louis Smith.

David has been supported by Get Kids Going! for many years. On 13 April 2008, David won his third London Marathon in a row, and his fourth in total. Weir also won four medals (two golds, a silver and a bronze) at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Games, which were his third Games.

For more about David Weir please visit our website.