Sponsors
Our Headline Sponsor
We would like to thank Brakes for their wonderful support of the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon.
Brakes is proud to sponsor The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon. With over 50 years experience of serving the catering industry they are totally dedicated to helping deliver a responsible and sustainable future for all.
Brakes is committed to ethical trading through responsible sourcing as well as driving Fairtrade, Red Tractor and local product initiatives.
They have their own expert team to provide customers with nutritional advice and healthy menu suggestions, many products coming from their 'Healthier Choices' range.
Reducing its carbon footprint is also high on the agenda and initiatives such as championing British produce, regional sourcing and seasonality are starting to make a real difference by reducing food miles, at the same time as providing customers with an efficient and friendly regional service.
Sponsoring the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon strengthens Brakes ongoing commitment to the environment and supporting charities in the communities it serves.
Brakes’ commitment to providing healthier eating solutions
Brakes provide a unique range of quality products that meet with strict nutritional criteria. We do everything we can help our service levels in order for our customers to create healthier and delicious menus.
• Brakes have removed Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils for our own brand products. No Brakes branded products manufactured in 2008 will contain HVO’s.
• In line with targets set by the Food Standards Agency, Brakes are reducing the levels of salt in our own brand products and are committed to continuing this work.
• Brakes prohibit the use of artificial colours in children’s products and we are working on the complete removal of these colourings from our entire range of own brand Brakes products where possible.
• Brakes offer nutritional and dietetic guidance from our experienced nutrition team and were the first Foodservice Company to employ a dietitian.
Our Category Sponsors
Our thanks to our many other generous supporters too.
Nokia 
Nokia is delighted to be partnering with the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon in its inaugural year. The initiative is a way of showcasing Nokia's new Personal Navigation service, designed to allow runners to use their mobiles as an indispensable complement to their fitness activities whatever their level.
The idea is that the mobile phone, through new services and downloadable software, can enhance the running experience. With the latest range of gps-equipped Nokia handsets, runners can now plan routes, set and monitor targets, record and share performances, and track progress. Nokia's new Sports Tracker application enables runners to analyse their progress by tracking speed, distance and timings, whilst matching this with the gps outputs. The devices can even be used to monitor real-time body metrics (such as pulse-rate) - as well as just listen to music, or to ring home if difficulties occur.
"Once and for all, we've put paid to the myth that mobile phone users and people interested in fitness are worlds apart," said Simon Ainslie, Nokia's UK Managing Director. "This isn't just about new technologies for runners. It's a major philosophical shift in how we use mobiles to achieve a better quality of life, whether we run marathons or just stroll in the parks."
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M&S
M&S are proud to sponsor the first Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon. Leading an active lifestyle is one way to stay fit and healthy and the health of our customers is one of the key priorities of our Plan A commitments.
Plan A. Because there is no Plan B.
Five years. Five commitments.
- Climate Change: We’ll aim to make our UK & Irish operations carbon neutral by 2012.
- Waste: By 2012 we'll aim to ensure that none of our clothing or packaging needs to end up as landfill
- Sustainable Raw Materials: Our goal is to make sure our key raw materials come from the most sustainable sources available to us
- Fair Partner: We’ll help to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in our worldwide supply chain
- Health: We’ll help customers to choose healthier lifestyles through clear labelling and easily accessible information.
For further information about our eco-plan please visit www.marksandspencer.com/PlanA
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Our Media Partner
Metro
Metro Editor Kenny Campbell said: 'What a wonderful race this is going to be - with its Royal Parks setting and emphasis on fun as well as fitness, there is no comparable event in the country. Metro is delighted to be involved in the inaugural Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon.'
It's not too late to get involved, please call Sally Barney on 020 7298 2065 for an informal discussion about sponsorship opportunities available.
