So, you did the sensible thing. You poured a cup of tea, cleared your throat, and bravely entered the ballot for the 2027 TCS London Marathon. You and, as it turns out, 1,338,544 of your nearest and dearest strangers from more than 200 countries. The race has, with the inevitability of a British weather forecast, shattered its own world record for ballot applications – a number so vast it makes Glastonbury queues look like a polite shuffle outside a village post office.
If you fancy a flutter, Runner’s World puts your odds at roughly 1 in 67 as a one-day event, or a comparatively giddy 1 in 13 if the rumoured two-day format gets the green light. Either way, it would be entirely understandable if you are, at this very moment, refreshing your inbox with the joyless rhythm of a metronome. Don’t. The results aren’t out until early July 2026.
But fear not, dear runner. There is another way. A finer way. A way that involves a finisher’s medal and a halo. We are, at last, opening the Team SCA UK charity place application form for the 2027 TCS London Marathon, and we would very much like you to join us.
Why run the London Marathon 2027 for Team SCA UK?
Because, frankly, you’d be running for Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK — a small but mighty, volunteer-led charity supporting survivors and co-survivors of cardiac arrest. Our debut Team SCA UK marathon team in 2026 raised an entirely improbable £20,000 between them, on a day that saw Sabastian Sawe run the first sub-two-hour marathon in race conditions (a frankly silly 1:59:30), the largest field of finishers ever recorded — 59,226 of them — and a Mediterranean warmth that, per Strava’s analysis, made things quite spicy for the later starters. Don’t worry: nobody is asking you to keep up with Sawe.
What it takes to run for Team SCA UK
A charity place is, to be plain about it, no trifle. Every place we secure represents a meaningful chunk of our budget. In return, we ask three things.
The first is a fundraising commitment of £2,000, which, with a decent fundraising page on Enthuse or JustGiving, a willingness to ask your aunt three times, and perhaps a bake sale or two, is genuinely achievable. We will support you every step of the way.
The second is honesty about your circumstances. If you are a sudden cardiac arrest survivor or co-survivor, we ask that at least six months have passed since your event before applying — and ideally 18 months before race day. Your body has been through quite enough, thank you.
The third is enthusiasm. We want runners who will tell their story, wear our colours with pride, and join the wider SCA UK community. The medal is lovely. The community is the prize.
Apply for a Team SCA UK charity place — 2027 London Marathon
Below is our application form. It asks the sensible questions: who you are, how you’d raise the funds, your connection to sudden cardiac arrest (if any), and your willingness to commit. Selected applicants will be notified in due course, at which point a non-refundable £100 registration fee will be requested to confirm your place.
If the form does not load for you, please use this direct link: SCA UK London Marathon Interest – Fill in form.
Ballot results, charity places, and other things to know
The 2027 London Marathon ballot results will land in early July 2026. If your inbox sings, magnificent – and please do get in touch, as we’d be thrilled to support your fundraising for SCA UK on your own ballot place.
If your inbox stays silent? Don’t despair. A Team SCA UK charity place may yet be yours — but they are precious, limited, and will go to those who apply early and apply well. So don’t dawdle.
FAQs
1. When does the Team SCA UK application form close?
We will keep applications open until our places are filled. Given how many people entered last year, we strongly recommend applying as soon as possible.
2. How many charity places does SCA UK have for the 2027 London Marathon?
A small, hard-won number. We won’t publish the exact figure, but expect competition.
3. Do I need to be a sudden cardiac arrest survivor to apply?
Absolutely not. We welcome survivors, co-survivors, family, friends, and supporters. A personal connection helps tell your fundraising story, but passion for the cause matters far more than biography.
4. I’m a sudden cardiac arrest survivor — can I really run a marathon?
In a word, yes — and we’d love to have you on the team. Our 2026 debut team included a survivor who completed the course in fine style, and his achievement remains one of our proudest moments. However, our overriding priority is that every Team SCA UK runner gets to the finish line safely. For that reason, we ask all survivor applicants to obtain written medical clearance from your cardiologist (or appropriate specialist) confirming you are fit to undertake marathon training and to race 26.2 miles. We also ask that at least 6 months have passed since your cardiac event before you apply, and ideally 18 months before race day. We’d rather lose a place than lose a runner.
5. What is the fundraising minimum?
We ask each runner to raise a minimum of £2,000 before race day.
6. Which fundraising platform should I use?
Enthuse or JustGiving – either works, and we’ll support you with whichever you choose.
7. Is there a registration fee?
Yes – a non-refundable £100 registration fee is payable once a place has been confirmed. This helps offset a small portion of the cost of the charity place itself.
8. I entered the public ballot — should I still apply for a charity place?
You can express your interest now and indicate on the form that you are awaiting your ballot result. If you win a ballot place, brilliant – we can still partner with you on fundraising. If not, you’ll already be in our shortlist.
9. What if I’m not a confident runner?
Strava’s analysis of the 2026 London Marathon revealed that 37% of finishers were first-time marathoners. London offers one of the most welcoming and well-supported 26.2-mile courses in the world. You don’t need to have multiple marathons under your belt; we’re looking for regular runners—those who may not have completed a marathon yet, but with a year of training and sensible pacing, can absolutely achieve this goal.
10. What support does SCA UK offer its runners?
Fundraising guidance from trustees, training advice, an SCA UK running vest, route-side cheering from our wonderful supporters, and a place in the warmest, most candid community of survivors and co-survivors you’ll ever meet.
11. What if I have to drop out?
We understand entirely — life, injury, and health do as life, injury, and health will. We ask only that you let us know as early as possible so we can offer the place to a reserve.
12. When is the 2027 London Marathon?
The traditional date is late April 2027. There is a current rumour, as reported by Runner’s World, of a possible two-day event spanning Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027. We will, of course, keep our team informed.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK is a registered charity supporting survivors and co-survivors of cardiac arrest across the UK. To learn more, please visit our About page, donate to SCA UK, or become a Friend of SCA UK to receive our digital magazine, Phoenix.
After our first meet-up in February 2015, I realised I was not alone. It was the first time since my cardiac arrest the previous year that I had spoken face-to-face with someone who had experienced what I had. This was also true for my wife, who also happened to be my lifesaver. From that meet-up, the idea of SCA UK was born. Since then, we have achieved a considerable amount, primarily providing information, resources and support to others in a similar situation but also raising the profile of survivorship and the need for better post-discharge care. We are starting to get traction in this, and with the formation of the charity, I genuinely believe we have a bright future ahead and will make a significant difference in the lives of many who join our ranks.