THE organisers of Swindon Half Marathon may be forced to pull the plug on the popular event unless more money can be raised.

The army of volunteers from SEQOL Community Foundation, desperately need £27,000 to make sure the day can go ahead.

If not, hundreds of runners and the charities they fundraise for will be left in the lurch.

The event is due to take place from Pipers Way at 10.30am on Sunday, October 16 and costs £65,000 in total to stage.

About £38,000 has already been raised thanks to generous sponsors, including Nationwide, Tesco Metro and Vox PR.

But they are urging more businesses to sign up and have also made a heart-felt plea to residents to dip in their pockets and make a contribution via an online fundraising page.

“The event can only go ahead if that £27,000 is raised,” said a spokesman from SEQOL Community Foundation, the charitable arm of SEQOL.

“The event’s arrangements are all in place and the event is ready to go.

“It will be of the same high calibre, with all the professionalism and expertise of last year, supported by great volunteers.

“Now all it needs is for Swindonians to dip their hands in their pockets to make the town’s greatest community event happen again.”

It is not the first time the event has been in jeopardy as last year the health and social care enterprise, which provides health and adult social care services in the town, came to the rescue after the British Heart Foundation pulled out of managing it. This led to huge praise for SEQOL Community Foundation.

So far, 529 people have signed up for this year’s half marathon, 35 for the five-mile multi-terrain, and 34 for the two-mile fun run.

Hundreds also usually line the route to cheer the runners on.

More than 1,650 people took part last year, so more are still expected to sign up and the entrance fees paid by all the runners go towards the event costs, so those intending to run should sign up as soon as they can.

All entrance fees will be refunded if the event does not go ahead, so there is no risk involved in signing up, the community foundation’s spokesman said.

“The Swindon Half Marathon puts Swindon on the national running events’ map,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic way of getting runners and non-runners together to share in a fun community event.”

To donate go to: crowdfunder.co.uk/swindon-half-marathon-community-run or for more information visit swindonhalfmarathon.org.uk

Or contact Katie on communications@seqol.org or 07507 833776.