Case Study
Total participants brought together across three flagship events.
Collectively raised to support lifesaving research and charity partners.
Tailored, event-specific designs featuring custom landmarks and custom detailing.
At Bespoke Medals, we love celebrating the incredible causes and events we’re proud to support. After all, mass participation events are about more than just crossing a finish line, they are a powerful way to bring communities together, raise vital funds, and create lasting memories.
We are the proud partners of some of the biggest running and charity fundraising events in the UK. This includes the TCS London Marathon, the Great North Run and since 2023, we have had the privilege of working alongside British Heart Foundation as their trusted events supplier, designing and producing high-quality charity medals for some of the UK’s most iconic endurance challenges.
From historic cycling routes to coastal endurance swims, our collaboration with British Heart Foundation team has delivered striking, sustainable event memorabilia that participants wear with pride.
To understand what goes into executing merchandise for mass-participation fundraising, we caught up with the event organising team at British Heart Foundation to discuss their goals, their challenges, and the vital role that premium event rewards play on the big day.
British Heart Foundation: “The core purpose of our events is to bring people together to make a meaningful difference, raising vital funds and awareness while inspiring participants to take positive action for a cause that impacts so many lives.
This cause is deeply important to our community, as it resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds. It provides an opportunity for individuals to honour loved ones, take on a personal challenge, and contribute collectively to something that creates lasting, positive impact.”
British Heart Foundation: “We collaborated with Bespoke Medals across three of our major annual events”
● The London to Brighton Bike Ride (L2B): Our massive road cycling event which saw 12,000 participants take to the saddle and successfully raised an incredible £1.5 million for our cause and charity partners.
● The London to Brighton Bike Ride Off Road (L2BOR): A rugged, adventurous format that welcomed 2,000 riders and generated £600,000 in vital fundraising.
● The Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim (P2P): This was a particularly huge milestone for us, as it marked the final year of this specific event format. It turned out to be our biggest year yet, with 1,500 swimmers taking part and raising a fantastic £350,000.
In total, across just these three events, over 15,500 incredible individuals came together to raise more than £2.45 million.”
British Heart Foundation: “Our charity medals play a key role in recognising participants’ efforts and achievements, serving as a meaningful symbol of their commitment and the difference they are helping to make.
Logistically, all our events require immense operational flexibility, careful budget considerations, and a strong focus on sustainability. We need to be able to respond quickly and positively to logistical changes while maintaining strict quality and participant satisfaction.
Bespoke Medals stood out because they worked closely with us to achieve a significant price reduction and price match. This directly ensured our events came in within budget, while simultaneously providing an eco-friendly medals option that aligned with our sustainability goals without sacrificing the high-quality product our finishers deserve.”
British Heart Foundation: “We were already familiar with Bespoke Medals through our established working relationship , and choosing them again came down to their reliability, competitive pricing, consistent quality, and deep understanding of our needs. They are a genuinely trusted and valued partner.
The entire design process was collaborative, supportive, and straightforward. The team consistently offered expert guidance and solutions that made the experience smooth and confident from start to finish.
We wanted the final designs to reflect the distinct spirit of the events themselves, celebrating participation, perseverance, and the collective journey of everyone involved. They achieved this by creating pieces tailored specifically to the style of each event, such as intricate bike wheels for the L2BOR off-road ride, or iconic landmarks for the traditional L2B route. Every single design felt truly bespoke, featuring thoughtful details that enhanced its significance for our participants.”
British Heart Foundation: “The events successfully met their objectives, delivering strong participation, positive feedback, and meaningful impact across the board.
When the participants received their rewards at the finish line, they felt incredibly proud and appreciative. The medals serve as a meaningful keepsake that celebrates both their personal athletic achievement and the wider impact of the event. They contributed positively to the overall experience, helping us end the events on a memorable and uplifting note.
Furthermore, having such eye-catching, unique designs helps encourage participants to share their achievements and experiences on social media. This significantly boosts digital visibility for our events and inspires continued involvement and repeat participation for the future.”
— The Event Organising Team, British Heart Foundation
Whether you are organising a mass-participation charity marathon, a regional cycling challenge, or a local community fundraiser, the reward you hand out at the finish line carries the weight of the entire journey.
As shown by our work with British Heart Foundation, a thoughtful, striking design combined with a commitment to budget and sustainability can completely elevate your participant experience. At Bespoke Medals, we provide a completely Free Design Service to help bring your unique concept to life. Explore our versatile range of event styles and features to find the perfect match for your organisation’s goals:
● Enamelled Medals: Perfect for showcasing vibrant, fine 2D or 3D details that make local landmarks and event branding pop.
● Eco-Friendly Wooden Medals: Crafted from sustainable materials, these are an ideal choice for event organisers looking to minimise their environmental impact without sacrificing quality.
● Segment Medals: A unique, interlocking solution specifically engineered for multi-event series, challenge tracking, or multi-year milestones.
● Custom Printed Ribbons: Complete your presentation in style with bespoke, premium event ribbons tailored to match your brand’s specific themes or charity colours.
Ready to inspire your next field of participants? Get in touch with our expert design team today to request a quote and create a custom charity medal your finishers will cherish forever.