Cardiff University has expanded its partnership with the Cardiff Half Marathon to become the event’s official Civic Partner.
The enhanced partnership, which first began in 2016, builds on a decade of collaboration, deepening the shared commitment to community engagement, health and wellbeing within the city.
Previously, Cardiff University was the event’s Title Partner and subsequently its Research Partner. This year saw it come on board as civic partner, supporting initiatives surrounding Cardiff Half’s wider social impact and developing new opportunities for students, staff and researchers to get involved in that space.
Some of the highlights of 2025 include CPR training for Cardiff Half volunteers, also known as the Extra Milers, as well as the wider community to ensure more people know how to use this vital skill, not only for race day but in daily life. They also created a film to help promote this training to their student body.
A group of the university’s marketing students also took on a project looking at engaging volunteers for the event – exploring what drives individuals to volunteer, what barriers may exist and how to enhance the overall volunteer experience.
Past projects have seen the university carry out research into the barriers women face when it comes to running, resulting in safer training routes developed in South Wales, as well as measuring the economic and environmental impact of mass participation races on the local and wider Welsh economy.
Damian Walford Davies, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Cardiff University, said:
“Our local and regional communities are at the heart of what we do. We have been responding to major challenges faced by society and undertaking work for the public good for over 140 years. It’s what we call our civic mission and it’s embedded in our strategy.
“Our values strongly align with those of Run 4 Wales, a partner we are proud to work with, and so it’s a natural move to formalise our relationship and explore opportunities to enhance the public good.”
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at Run 4 Wales, added:
“Cardiff University has been a valued supporter of the Cardiff Half Marathon for close to a decade, and we’re thrilled to further develop and expand our relationship.
“As Civic Partner, the University will help us further ensure that the Cardiff Half Marathon continues to deliver positive social and economic impact to the city while helping to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Wales and beyond.”
Now in its 23rd year, the Cardiff Half Marathon attracts more than 29,000 runners – including thousands from overseas to the Welsh capital and is Wales’ largest mass-participation fundraising event.
