Team Beacon sets new records at the 2026 Brighton Half Marathon
Over 800 runners have contributed to raising more than £300,000 for The Sussex Beacon
This year's Altra Brighton Half Marathon proved to be a remarkable success for The Sussex Beacon - as 'Team Beacon' smashed records for the charity.
Over 800 runners took part in the event wearing the distinctive Team Beacon vest, almost doubling last year's 400 runners.
'Biggest and best yet'
Rachel Brett, CEO of The Sussex Beacon, expressed her astonishment at the £300,000 raised, emphasising that these funds are crucial for supporting individuals living with HIV and reinstating the charity's palliative care services.
She said: “This year’s Half Marathon was our biggest and best yet. We are truly astounded that more than £300,000 has been raised by over 800 incredible Team Beacon runners.
"This success reflects an enormous amount of hard work and demonstrates just how valued The Sussex Beacon is within our community.
"These vital funds will allow us to continue supporting people living with HIV and to reinstate our palliative care services, ensuring we can provide inclusive care for those most in need and facing the greatest inequalities.
"We are deeply grateful to all our supporters; without them this essential work simply wouldn’t be possible.”
Celebrity presence added extra flair to Team Beacon, with long-time supporter Olly Alexander kicking off the race.
He participated alongside notable figures such as comedian Zoe Lyons, as well as Kemptown and Peacehaven MP, Chris Ward.
Jodie Ounsley and Jamie Christian, known from Gladiators, posed for photographs post-race, while Amanda Collier from The Traitors supported her wife Caroline, a Team Beacon participant.
Among the team, Gareth Honor marked a significant milestone by running his 40th event for The Sussex Beacon.
Andrew Buchan, co-creator of Team Beacon, recruited over 40 runners from Littlehampton, further boosting the team's numbers.
David Hill added a splash of colour to the event with his iconic Panto Dame attire, complemented by Peyton Vellaa's tribute run in memory of prominent Drag artists David Raven, aka Maisie Trollette, and Jason Sutton, aka Miss Jason.
Ian Puttock also garnered attention for his recent feat of completing the UK’s only marathon in a multi-storey car park.
Every Team Beacon runner had a fundraising target set at £200, although many exceeded expectations by raising over £1,000 individually.
Sussex Freemasons Community Charity, a key sponsor, expressed their involvement was a point of pride.
Mike Harris, Chairman of the charity, said: “As Sussex Freemasons we live and work in our communities.
"To have the opportunity to assist The Sussex Beacon both financially and physically gives a real sense of pride to our membership and gives hope to The Sussex Beacon’s service users.
"We are delighted that the effort of all the amazing runners has resulted in yet another record-breaking year for the charity.”
Team Beacon Celebrities
