One billion pounds has been raised for charity since the first race in 1981

The Virgin Money London Marathon has announced its #ThanksABillion campaign as fundraising from the event reaches £1,000,000,000 – or £1billion.

Every year, more than 75% of the 40,000-plus runners raise money for charity and in 2019 Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK have joined forces to become charity of the year.

Hugh Brasher, event director of the Virgin Money London Marathon, said: "The London Marathon has set a world record for fundraising for an annual one-day event every year since 2007, with an incredible £63.7million raised from the 2018 event.

"That brought the total raised since 1981 to more than £955million and on Sunday April 28, in the 39th London Marathon, we will break the £1,000,000,000 mark.

"This is a phenomenal achievement and part of what makes the London Marathon unique. No other mass participation event comes anywhere near this kind of fundraising.

"We would like to thank every runner, supporter, donator, charity, volunteer, sponsor, spectator, staff member and everyone else who has contributed to this wonderful total."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "This is an astonishing achievement and my congratulations go to everyone involved in making the London Marathon such a world-renowned fundraising success – helping millions of people over the last 38 years.

"From the brilliant organisers, to the tireless volunteers who help ensure everyone has fun and stays safe and, most importantly, the thousands of runners who devote themselves to training and raising money for a range of fantastic causes year after year – Thanks a Billion to everyone involved."

Thousands of charities fundraise through the event and for many, race day is the biggest fundraising day of the year.

Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising, said: "We’re delighted to hear that through the incredible efforts of charity runners and their supporters, the London Marathon has reached this remarkable landmark.

"One billion pounds in donations marks just how engaged and committed charity runners are to raising vital funds for the causes they care about. We look forward to a strong future for the London Marathon events as they raise even more funds for charity."

Cancer Research UK currently holds the record for the highest amount raised by a charity in a single year with £3.6million raised in 2016, as charity of the year.

The 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon will celebrate Thanks a Billion with some of the world’s best elite athletes assembling in the capital. Read more on the elite fields here.