We're delighted to launch our new ‘Run For Free with BiodiversiTee’ initiative to encourage you to tick the ‘BiodiversiTee' box the next time you enter one of our events to help our sustainability drive.

Choosing 'BiodiversiTee' means you don't pick up a finishers' t-shirt at the end of your run. Instead, its cost goes towards carefully selected sustainability projects here in Cumbria.

Every year we end up with hundreds of excess t-shirts which very few charities are able to make use of, and we know that there will be thousands of finishers' t-shirts which are only worn a couple of times before accumulating in drawers, never seeing the light of day. How many of your tees do you wear?

Event tees are a huge waste of resources (including oil, from which they are made) and we'd like to you think about everything else you get by taking part in our events - the marked trails and wonderful marshals, the stunning views, the great, friendly 'family' atmosphere, the live music, the delicious food...there really is so much more than just 'running for the t-shirt'!

All BiodiversiTee entries for this year will count, even existing ones and you can update your choice for events you've already entered in your account (except for Hawkshead as it's so close). Once you've completed 5 events with the BiodiversiTee option, we'll email you a code to redeem your free entry.

We know people love to wear our event tees so we'll have a new 2023 design available to purchase from Staveley onwards, made from 100% recycled polyester in unisex and female fit and we'll still offer bespoke event tees for people who want them this year.

The cost of the unproduced t-shirts go towards sustainability projects in Cumbria through donations to Cumbria Wildlife Trust and individual projects in the areas where we run and work. We've raised over £10,000 since we launched BiodiversiTee and with more people choosing this option, we can make an even bigger difference to the Lake District National Park and its surrounds.

We'll be giving an update from Cumbria Wildlife Trust in the near future but have also supported small-scale projects such as developing the wildlife garden at Langdale Primary School, replacing storm-damaged trees in Fitz Park, Keswick, creating all season gardens in Coniston, and planting trees in the Grisedale valley near Glenridding to help with biodiversity and flood management.

We're lucky to be able to run in such a beautiful area and if we can all take a small step to reduce our footprint, we can make a big impact on its future.

Please see our Ts and Cs for some fine print!