Running For A Cause: Italy
Italy's major marathons sell out early — often months in advance — and standard registration becomes a lottery or a scramble. Both Rome and Milan run formal charity programs that bypass this entirely. Commit to a fundraising minimum and your place is guaranteed. No ballot, no midnight refresh.
Run Rome The Marathon
Sunday, March 14, 2027
Organized by a consortium of Infront Italy, Corriere dello Sport – Stadio and Rome Marathon Runners, sanctioned by the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL). The 2026 edition drew a record 36,000 marathon entries — 75% from outside Italy — and closed four months ahead of race day. The course loops from the Fori Imperiali past the Colosseum, Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter's, finishing at the Circo Massimo. The Charity Program partners with Italian non-profit organizations across the field, and also offers four-person relay entries and a Saturday 5K fun run.
Wizz Air Milano Marathon
Sunday, April 4, 2027
Organized by RCS Sports & Events. Its Charity Program is the largest fundraising initiative tied to any sporting event in Italy and among the largest in Europe — 140 registered non-profits in 2026, up from 103 the previous year, raising through the Rete del Dono platform. Charity entry was historically limited to the four-person relay; as of 2026 it extends to full marathon places as well. Fondazione AIRC, the Italian cancer research foundation, is Charity of the Year for 2027. The course is the fastest in Italy.
How charity entry works
Select a non-profit from the race's charity roster
The organization contacts you directly and handles your registration
Set up a personal fundraising page on the race's designated platform
Meet the pledge minimum ahead of race day
Read the fundraising minimum before committing — the figure varies by organization and by entry type, and it is a binding commitment, not a suggestion.
Race weekends benefit from specific planning: accommodation within walking distance of the start, dining that accommodates early race-morning schedules, and recovery time built in afterward. Rome in March and Milan in April both pair well with additional travel — Umbria, the lakes, or a few quiet days in Bergamo.
To plan travel around a race weekend, contact Bella Adventures at travel@bellaadventures.com.