When the London Marathon announced they were looking for a new sponsor, Virgin jumped at the opportunity to be part of something amazing.

Although we knew the London Marathon runners raise massive amounts for good causes each year, we hadn’t realised the race was in fact the single biggest annual fundraising event on the planet. It has raised over £450 million for good causes since 1981.

We were so inspired by the London Marathon’s commitment to helping good causes that Virgin Money, lead sponsor and Virgin’s financial services arm, offered to lend their expertise and see if there was any way we could help the runners raise even more.

Virgin Money has over 2.5million customers in the UK and is one of the UK’s fastest growing financial services businesses. Virgin Money offer credit cards, loans, insurance, pensions and ISAs.

With this knowledge and experience behind them, the team at Virgin Money are aiming to help runners raise more than £250 million for good causes over the next 5 years. And to get things off to a flying start they’ve launched Virgin Money Giving.

Virgin Money Giving is a not-for-profit sponsorship website which will improve the way donations and Gift Aid are collected, ensuring more money goes to charities.

Virgin Money Giving is the official fundraising website for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon, so if you’re using the race as an opportunity to raise money for good causes.

We love the fact that the London Marathon is both a massive fundraising event and a world-famous sporting occasion - it’s become a national institution. The atmosphere and camaraderie at the London Marathon is like nothing else.

We’re really excited about being part of the celebrations and plan to help make 2011 the best race yet.