Earlier this month Simplyhealth, a UK-based member of the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF), announced that it has become the new title sponsor of UK’s biggest mass participation running series of events – known as The Great Run Series. The Great Run events include the world’s largest half marathon, now called the Simplyhealth Great North Run.
The sponsorship began with the Simplyhealth Great Winter Run and The Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh International Cross Country, featuring quadruple Olympic Gold medallist and newly knighted Sir Mo Farah, which were held in Scotland’s capital city on Saturday 7 January.
The agreement will cover events in city locations including Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Edinburgh and Newcastle; involving runners of all abilities in distances that range from 5k to the half marathon. The agreement also includes the Junior and Mini Great Run events.
Speaking about the sponsorship arrangement Romana Abdin, CEO, Simplyhealth said: “Our sole purpose at Simplyhealth is to help people make the most of life, through better everyday health. Life is better when we are all active – it’s not just the preserve of elite athletes and gym lovers. Our new partnership with The Great Run Series will allow us to help even more people get the most out of every day, simply by running, jogging or walking together.”
Brendan Foster, Chairman and Founder of the Great Run Company, said: “We are delighted to welcome Simplyhealth as the title sponsor of the Great Run series and we are excited about the partnership.
“The Great Run Company and Simplyhealth have a common purpose and I believe as partners we can develop something very special by helping change more and more people’s behaviours for the better.”
At the same time as announcing the sponsorship of the Great Run series Simplyhealth also announced that its headline charity for 2017 would be the UK disabled people’s charity Revitalise. Revitalise provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers at its three accessible UK holiday centres. The charity is set to benefit both financially and in terms of public awareness as a result of its association with Simplyhealth. Under Revitalise’s arrangement with Simplyhealth, runners enrolling for any of the Great Runs without a chosen charity will be encouraged to raise funds for Revitalise. It has been estimated that the charity could benefit by around GBP 1.2 million from this initiative alone.
Simplyhealth and Revitalise have enjoyed a long-standing relationship through Simplyhealth’s Before Breaking Point initiative, which was set up in 2013 and provides funding for disabled people and carers in financial hardship to take much-needed respite breaks with the charity.
In 2015, Simplyhealth agreed to fund a unique research program for Revitalise, conducted by the London School of Economics on the Economic Benefits of Respite Breaks. The results, due in April 2017, could support policy reviews and help Revitalise reach out to more people in need of respite support.
Romana Abdin said: “Charitable giving is at the heart of everything we do and, as official partner, we’re thrilled to announce that we have chosen Revitalise as our headline charity for 2017. Every year Simplyhealth donates 10% of its profits to health related charities which, in 2015 amounted to GBP 1.6 million, touching the lives of over 2 million people across the UK.”
Simplyhealth was named Best Health Insurance Provider at the Personal Finance Awards in November 2016. The Awards, which are voted by consumers via The Money Pages, celebrate the best of the UK’s personal finance businesses and products.
Prior to its 2015 and 2016 wins, Simplyhealth were named Best Health Insurance Provider at the Personal Finance Awards in 2013.
Simplyhealth’s aim for over 140 years has been to help people make the most of life by helping them access affordable healthcare through a variety of health cash plans, dental plans and mobility and living aids.
Picture shows: Romana Abdin, CEO, Simplyhealth; Brendan Foster, Chairman and Founder of the Great Run Company; Sir Mo Farah; Laura Muir; and other members of the Simplyhealth team.
