The London Duathlon is today delighted to announce their new sponsor, The Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity. In a groundbreaking sponsorship, the Charity has agreed a 3-year deal that also sees them become the official charity partner.

Nick Rusling, Managing Director of The London Duathlon, commented: “It is hugely exciting to be forming such an ambitious and unique partnership with the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity over the coming years. It is a fantastically natural relationship with the core reason for teaming up being ‘a drive towards health’. Alongside this message, we will be working together to build a team of 100’s of participants who will, vitally, also commit to fund raising for the Charity. It is going to be a lot of fun and I am confident that, together, we will deliver some very tangible and rewarding results.”

The Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity London Duathlon is the world’s largest duathlon and it will take place in the stunning surroundings of Richmond Park. On Sunday 14th September, 10,000 spectators are expected to line the roads in the park for the only day in the entire year when the roads are closed to vehicles.

There are two separate distances that people can choose to enter – ‘Fun’ which is a 5km run, 10km cycle and 5km run and ‘Challenge’ which is a 9km run, 20km cycle and 5km run. Registered places in the event can only be through the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity until the end of February 2008 – for further information and to register please visit www.thelondonduathlon.com or www.chelwestcharity.org.uk

The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a flagship provider of general hospital services for thousands of people living in west and south London and more specialised services for people from all over London and beyond – including Burns, Children’s Services (eg Children’s A&E Dept + Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and HIV. †

The Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity helps to make the hospital special by providing vital research, medical equipment and services for patients. It also helps to create a healing environment through its art collection and concerts in the hospital. Most importantly, given this new venture, the Charity aims to encourage health and wellbeing through sports activities.

Supporting the Charity to support the hospital really can make a difference – for example, some of the money raised will help buy a new CT scanner, which will benefit thousands of patients and save lives every year.

Diane Yeo, Chief Executive of Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity, said: “The Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity London Duathlon is the first step in the Charity’s ambitious programme aimed at improving the health of the people of West and South London.

We are delighted to be associated with this event and very much hope that the staff of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and everyone connected with the Hospital including organisations and individuals in the community it serves, will join us by taking part or by sponsoring someone. Funds raised will go towards the CT Scanner Appeal and other deserving projects which do not have funding from the NHS”.

† The Trust was officially rated Excellent for both the quality of its services and its use of financial resources in the Healthcare Commission’s NHS performance ratings last month – only 19 NHS trusts in England and only 2 other trusts in London scored a double excellent.