An eight-strong team from United Molasses Group will take part in this year’s London Marathon to raise vital funds for charity.

The runners are running in support of Starlight Children’s Foundation and hope to raise more than £20,000 through donations and corporate match-funding.

For over 30 years, Starlight has enabled children and families to find hope through the power of play after a child is diagnosed with a serious illness.

Last year, the charity reached 1.2 million children in almost 500 hospitals across the UK.

The UM team consists of CEO Ben Macer, Shaun Smith [Group Finance], Mark Few, Simon Markham and Emma Holding [all from Molasses GB], Nigel Jones [Head of Technical & Quality], Jamie Marshall [UM Terminals, Hull East] and UM customer Henry Eastick from Ragus, the sugars and syrups specialist.

The London Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 2^nd and the team is stepping up its training as the event nears.

Ben Macer, CEO of UM Group, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Starlight Children’s Foundation. They are a small charity doing some incredibly important work supporting children and families across the UK.

“I would like to thank all the members of the UM team, including one of our much-valued customers, for undertaking the challenge of running the London Marathon and, at the same, time raising a lot of money for a hugely worthwhile cause.”

In addition to their training, the team has various fundraising activities planned including a cake sale.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lonmar22

For more information about Starlight, visit www.starlight.org.uk