Run UK Ekiden for Momiji

WE DID IT!!

On 24th June, team Momiji ran 123km from Oxford to Windsor along the Thames Path in the first ever UK Ekiden running relay! The team finished in 7th place in a time of 10 hours and 33 minutes! What a great achievement and everyone on the team ran amazingly well.

Momiji is a charity that promotes strong ties between Japan and the UK by providing opportunities for young people and is the lead charity sponsor of the inaugural UK Ekiden race.

Funds raised for Momiji will go towards Momiji's local UK projects, as well as KidsFam, the foundation that supports Momiji house, a hospice in Tokyo for terminally ill children. Momiji House was set up by our founder Masayo Kidani in 2016. Any donations are greatly appreciated and will have a life-changing impact on children and parents' lives.

Ekiden is a traditional Japanese relay race that dates back more than 100 years. UK Ekiden will see 19 teams taking part, each with 10 runners, running roughly 12 km. It is a running format that has long captivated running enthusiasts around the world, and interest is rising in the UK.

This year’s first UK Ekiden race holds special significance as it is being held in celebration and admiration of the world-famous Hakone Ekiden, which marked its 100th anniversary in January 2024. UK Ekiden aims to honour this milestone by embracing the spirit of the Hakone Ekiden, which is renowned for its exceptional level of competition and teamwork. The grant pledged by Momiji has played a crucial role in making UK Ekiden a reality.

Visit Momiji's website. Visit KidsFam's website.