Our London marathon runners raise record amount for Gloucester House recovery centre

The 25 members of The Salvation Army’s ‘Team Sally Army’ London Marathon runners have raised £50,000 for Gloucester House recovery centre.

Everyone in the team managed to complete the gruelling 26.2 mile course through the Capital on Sunday, 23 April with an average time of five hours.

Team member, Stuart Bayley-Denton achieved a personal best of three hours, while The Salvation Army’s East Midlands Divisional Office, Wayne Bungay passed the finishing line in a shade over four hours.

The money raised from the team’s collective efforts will support the vital Buy A Bed scheme at Gloucester House.  A programme run entirely on donations; which provides assisted residential addiction treatment to men who cannot access funding; whether through homelessness or because of other personal difficulties. 

Anyone inspired by Team Sally Army who would like to join them for next year’s London Marathon can apply directly to The Salvation Army for one of our charity places and raise much-needed funds for our homelessness services into the bargain. 

Alternatively, runners can apply for a place by entering the London Marathon 2018 ballot, but they’ll need to be quick.  The five day entry window opens on Monday, 1 May and closes at 5pm on Friday, 5 May.

Run by The Salvation Army, Gloucester House Recovery Centre is a residential addiction treatment centre which offers its service users a permanent way out of the self-destructive cycle of addictive behaviour and a clear path to sustained independent living; through compassionate emotional, physical and practical support.

Most people who come to Gloucester House are referred there by their local authority, the criminal justice system, or NHS medical services; or by families that are desperate to help their loved ones.  Clients can stay at the centre from anything between 12 and 24 weeks, depending on their circumstances and availability of funding.

Run the Virgin Money London Marathon with Team Sally Army in 2018. To find out how to get your place, click here.