Cardiff Half Marathon

The Cardiff Half Marathon is one of Europe’s largest and most exciting road races, attracting tens of thousands of runners each year. The fast, flat course takes in some of Cardiff’s most iconic landmarks, including Cardiff Castle, the Principality Stadium and Cardiff Bay, with incredible crowd support throughout.

This is a brilliant event for runners of all abilities, whether you are aiming for a personal best or taking on your first half marathon.

Register with Run for Charity for a guaranteed place

CLEFT has partnered with Run for Charity to offer guaranteed charity places at the Cardiff Half Marathon.

To secure your place, you will need to commit to raising a minimum fundraising amount. Once you have reached your fundraising target, your race entry will be confirmed.

We will support you throughout your fundraising journey with tools, advice and resources to help you succeed.

Why run for CLEFT?

By running for CLEFT, you will be helping to improve the treatment and long-term care of children born with cleft lip and palate in the UK and in low-resource countries worldwide.

Funds raised support clinical training, equipment, research and specialist cleft services, helping children access safe, comprehensive care.

What you will receive

A guaranteed charity place once your minimum fundraising target is met
CLEFT running vest
Fundraising support and resources from Team CLEFT

Join Team CLEFT at the Cardiff Half Marathon and make every mile count.

Book

Event details

Where

Cardiff Castle

View map

When

Start: 4^th October, 2026 at 9:30am

End: 4^th October, 2026 at 12:00pm

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Donate to CLEFT

You can make a one-off donation today or sign up to giving a regular monthly gift. All donations, small or large, will help us to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate both now and in the future.
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We are working with Bangladeshi specialists at the new National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery to create a sustainable centre to treat children with cleft lip and palate.
Our mission

CLEFT was established in 2007 with one aim, to help improve the lives of children born with cleft lip and palate, either by funding research into the likely causes of the condition or by helping support teams in lower and middle income countries.
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This important piece of equipment was supplied by CLEFT and is used to see moving images of the cleft palate. Nawrin is a 13 year old girl who was experiencing speech difficulties and needed the C-Arm to show the cleft team if further surgery was required.
About us

CLEFT was established in 2007 by cleft surgeon Brian Sommerlad - based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, together with a former patient and a patient's grandmother.
The genetics of cleft lip and palate

Investigations into the genetics of cleft lip and palate to understand more about why cleft lip and palate occurs.
Brian Sommerlad, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Chair of Trustees

For over 40 years, I have been involved in operating on babies, children and adults who have been born with cleft lip and/or palate.
Our research vision

At CLEFT, our vision is of a future where clefts are preventable. Until we get there, we want to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate.
Trusts and Foundations

Today, 1-in-700 babies in the UK are born with a cleft lip and palate, the most common form of birth defect. The impact on a child’s life as they grow is profound. Typically, they will need at least four operations. They may also require ongoing tests, treatment or therapy. It will affect the way they look but also their speech, hearing and dental development. It can leave deep psychological scars.
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