HYROX has announced an evolution of its charity strategy in the UK for the upcoming 2026/2027 season.

The fitness racing organiser is extending its long-term partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support while simultaneously introducing its international charity initiative, Race for Impact, to the UK market for the first time.

The new dual-charity model is designed to give participants more agency over their fundraising efforts. Under the updated system, athletes can choose between supporting local healthcare services via Macmillan Cancer Support or contributing to international health, climate and social projects through High Impact Athletes.

For the upcoming 2026/2027 season, HYROX UK has set an ambitious target of welcoming over 16,000 charity racers. To secure a place in the typically sold-out events, participants must commit to minimum fundraising targets. These are set equally across both charities at £400 for individual athletes in the singles division, £800 for the doubles division as a team effort, and £1200 for a relay team.

The decision to extend the relationship with Macmillan Cancer Support comes as the number of people living with cancer in the UK reaches a record high of nearly 3.5 million. Macmillan provides professional care, expert advice and emotional support across the country.

To date, the HYROX athlete community has raised £9,556,976.12 for Macmillan. According to internal data from the charity, this sum is sufficient to fund the three frontline teams on the Macmillan Support Line for almost ten months, allowing registered nurses, information specialists and welfare advisors to support nearly 75,000 people affected by cancer.

The introduction of Race for Impact represents the UK debut of an initiative founded by Olympians alongside the charity High Impact Athletes. The platform uses data-driven assessments from independent evaluators to identify high-performing charities across several sectors, including mental health, global health, women’s empowerment, animal welfare and climate solutions.

Since launching globally less than a year ago, the Race for Impact movement has seen more than 35,000 athletes across 60 cities worldwide raise over £4.4 million for vetted charities, supported by more than 108,000 individual donors.

According to independent cost-effectiveness metrics provided by High Impact Athletes, this global funding has achieved specific outcomes, including improving 263,000 lives through clean water, nutrition and disease prevention. The funds have also provided treatment for depression and anxiety to 108,000 people, supported 67,000 women through reproductive healthcare and anti-violence initiatives, assisted 1.5 million animals, and mitigated 164,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Craig Fordham, Director of Public Fundraising at Macmillan Cancer Support, said “We’re ecstatic to bring in another year of the partnership after years of overwhelming support from the HYROX community. We want to thank everyone who has raced with us over the last three years, and we can’t wait to welcome more people to Team Macmillan and take on the course to help us support people living with cancer.”

Hugo Inglis, Co-Founder and Managing Director of High Impact Athletes, said “Bringing Race for Impact to the UK is a milestone for us. HYROX athletes already measure everything, their splits, their reps, their personal bests, and Race for Impact means they can measure the good they do with the same precision, knowing exactly where their money goes and what it achieves. I’m looking forward to seeing what UK racers do when they can compete for impact as seriously as they compete against the clock.”

Moritz Fürste, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at HYROX, said “HYROX is rooted in community, and our charity partners are a huge part of that. Extending our journey with Macmillan Cancer Support was a natural next step, given the incredible effect it has across the UK. By bringing High Impact Athletes’ Race for Impact into this, we’re expanding that reach even further – giving participants the opportunity to support the causes that matter most to them.

“Whether it’s helping someone living with cancer in their local community or tackling climate change and poverty on a global scale, this is just the beginning of a movement that goes beyond sport.”

HYROX positions itself as a global fitness ecosystem with a standard race format consisting of eight 1km runs interspersed with eight functional workout stations. Registration for charity tickets for the upcoming 2026/2027 season will open alongside general event scaling.

www.hyroxuk.com

Over 1,300 runners representing 33 countries took part in the Lewa Safari Marathon in Kenya. The event is organised by African conservation charity Tusk and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. It is supported by sponsors Safaricom and Huawei.

The event has surpassed a major fundraising milestone, with more than US$10 million raised for conservation and community development projects since it was first held in 2000. Participants took on a marathon, half-marathon or 10km race through northern Kenya.

Among those taking part was Tusk Ambassador Tristan Phipps, who joined other runners from around the world. Held at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the event took runners across savannah grasslands, along riverbanks and through acacia woodland at an altitude of more than 1,676m above sea level. It is recognised by Runner’s World as one of the world’s top ten ‘must do’ marathons.

This year, the marathon is expected to generate more than £200,000 in funds. The proceeds have supported the recovery of Kenya’s black rhino population and the protection of the world’s critically endangered Grevy’s zebra.

The event has also helped provide healthcare to approximately 40,000 people in rural Kenya, improved access to clean water and infrastructure for local communities, supported education opportunities for more than 10,000 students and empowered 724 women artisans through beadwork and beekeeping initiatives.

Charlie Mayhew, President and CEO of Tusk, said “The Lewa Safari Marathon has shown what can be achieved when people come together behind a shared purpose. Reaching more than $10 million raised is a remarkable milestone and reflects the commitment of runners, supporters, sponsors and partners over the past 26 years. Every pound raised helps protect wildlife, support local communities and secure the future of some of Africa’s most important conservation landscapes. Congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s event.”

The men’s race was won by Samson Lemayan who crossed the finish line in a time of 2:27:04, while the women’s title went to Lydia Simiyu who finished in 2:50:39. In the half-marathon, Michael Kamau claimed victory in the men’s race with a time of 1:06:36, while Mercy Nelima won the women’s race in 1:19:02.

Rob Macaire, CEO at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, said “What began 26 years ago as an ambitious vision has grown into one of the world’s most extraordinary marathons, bringing together runners, communities, conservationists, sponsors and supporters from across the globe to support wildlife conservation and community development.

“Today, we celebrate not only the achievements of those who crossed the finish line, but also the lasting impact this event continues to make through conservation, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods. Experiencing my first Lewa Safari Marathon as CEO has been both inspiring and humbling. Together, we are helping secure a future where wildlife, its habitats and neighbouring communities can flourish side by side for generations to come.”

Tusk accelerates the impact of African-driven conservation. Since the charity was founded in 1990, it has generated £150 million to support the growth of over 250 local partner organisations and wildlife ranger teams in more than 25 African countries.

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a wildlife sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Kenya. It holds 12% of Kenya’s rhino population and hosts the largest single population of Grevy’s zebra in the world.

www.lewasafarimarathon.com