Making Every Mile Count: 10 Years of the Palace Marathon March

By Andrew Johnson, Head of Sport

Many of you will know that Crystal Palace is still a big part of my life, and over the years I’ve been lucky enough to stay involved with the club through a number of charity initiatives supporting the Palace for Life Foundation.

It’s a charity that means a lot to me.

Palace for Life uses football as a way to create opportunities for young people across South London. From physical activity and mentoring to mental health support, education and employment programmes, the work they do reaches far beyond football. It’s about helping young people build confidence, develop new skills and feel more positive about what their future can look like.

One event I’ve particularly enjoyed being part of is the Palace for Life Marathon Walk, and this year is a big one.

Saturday 3 October marks the 10th anniversary of the walk.

Over the previous nine events, more than £1 million has been raised for the Foundation, which is a brilliant achievement. This year, I’d love for us to add to that total with a strong turnout from BAND, our clients, partners, Palace supporters and anyone else who fancies taking on the challenge for a great cause.

The route starts and finishes at Selhurst Park, which feels like the perfect setting. There’s always a great atmosphere on the day and, although walking a marathon is certainly a challenge, doing it alongside a big group of people makes it a really enjoyable one.

For me, that’s a big part of why I keep coming back to it. It’s not just about covering the miles. It’s about spending the day with good people, taking on something memorable together and knowing that every step is helping to support young people in the community around the club.

This year, it would be fantastic to see plenty of familiar faces joining us.

BAND has set up a dedicated fundraising page for the Marathon Walk, so whether you’re planning to take part, want to support someone who is, or simply want to make a donation, every contribution will help Palace for Life continue the work it does across South London.

I’m really looking forward to being back at Selhurst Park for it, and hopefully seeing plenty of you there too. Let’s make the 10th anniversary one to remember.