A City of London running event is breaking new ground with the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to help cover its costs.

The annual City of London Mile, first held in June 2014, is completely free to enter, and relies on sponsorship for its funding.

The aim is not to fund the entire race via crowdfunding, but merely a portion of it, with sponsorship still the major contributor.

The campaign is being hosted by crowdfunding website pledgesports.org, with three levels of support on offer.

At each level, supporters receive far more in return than just an entry in next year’s race.

“It shouldn’t surprise anyone that staging a major event here in the City is not cheap,” said race director David Plummer.

“We’ve been toying with the crowdfunding idea for a couple of years, and we’re now putting it into action.

“As anyone who’s taken part in the City of London Mile will be aware, the event is unique in a number of different ways, and that now includes the way in which it’s financed.”

Winner of the elite women’s race in the 2016 edition, Julia Cooke, gave the crowdfunding campaign her full support.

“I love this event for lots of reasons, but mainly because racing on closed roads in somewhere like London is pretty special.

“It’s not every day I get to start a race in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral and then do a lap of the Bank of England.

“I really like the idea of giving people an opportunity to ‘invest’ in an event, as well as participate in it, so I wish the crowdfunding campaign every success.”

• The City of London Mile is jointly organised by Run-Fast Sports Management and The Running Works, an independent retailer in the heart of the City.

For further enquiries please contact Will Rial, Run-Fast Sports Management at will.rial@run-fast.net or 0207 036 2323.