Meet the employees from across Linen Quarter preparing to take part in the Belfast City Marathon and Relay

Employees from across Belfast’s Linen Quarter are preparing to take part in the Belfast City Marathon and Relay on Sunday 3 May, as part of LQ BID’s commitment to its charity partner of the year, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS).

LQ BID has covered registration costs for three relay teams and one individual runner, encouraging each to raise a minimum of £1,000 in support of NICHS. Organisations taking part in the relay include AtkinsRéalis, Financial Times and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), whilst Sam Doherty of CBRE NI is taking on the full marathon.

Their commitment demonstrates the great sense of community that exists amongst LQ BID members. The BIDs Health & Sustainability Manager, Lawrence Geoffrey-Tingson explains: “Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke was a natural choice as our first Charity Partner, given our joint interest in improving health outcomes for people across the Linen Quarter.”

“We recently concluded our first lunchtime couch to 5k programme for city centre workers, and funding runners to take part in the Belfast City Marathon is the latest way we are supporting workplace well-being among the districts employees, while also raising vital funds for a cause that has a real impact on so many lives across the region.”

“Linen Quarter Business Improvement District is committed to creating a vibrant, connected sense of place where people want to work, visit and spend time. Initiatives like this not only support an important charity but also help strengthen the sense of community that makes the Linen Quarter what it is.”

Financial Times

Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

Atkins Réalis

Sam Doherty, CBRE

The marathon forms only part of a wider programme of activity led by LQ BID to support NICHS as its selected charity partner for 2026. Through fundraising initiatives over the past year, LQ BID and its member organisations have already raised over £4,300 for NICHS, with activities including a static cycle challenge, charity headshot day, annual dinner and community events.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving health and wellbeing across the district. NICHS, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary this year, has long been a valued part of the Linen Quarter community, having first established its presence on Dublin Road in 1985. Following significant damage to its building in 2003, the organisation rebuilt and has remained at the heart of the district ever since.

Lindsay Lutton, Corporate Fundraising Co-ordinator at Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke, said, “We’re absolutely delighted to be LQ BID’s Charity Partner of the Year, particularly as we mark our 80th anniversary this year. Support like this plays a vital role in helping us raise much needed funds as well as awareness of chest, heart and stroke related conditions, which affect so many people locally. Today, there are approximately 600,000 adults living with a chest, heart or stroke condition in Northern Ireland, diagnosed and undiagnosed- that’s 40% of the population. Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke is here to help with our care and prevention services and the support from organisations across the Linen Quarter genuinely makes a difference to what we can achieve. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone taking part in the marathon and to LQ BID for their continued commitment to improving health and wellbeing across the district.”

Sam Doherty of CBRE NI, who will be taking on the full marathon, said: “It’s a privilege to represent the Linen Quarter and support Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke. Taking part in the marathon is a real challenge, but knowing it’s for such an important cause – one that impacts so many people locally – makes it all the more worthwhile.”

From large-scale events and cultural programming to health-focused initiatives, the Linen Quarter’s annual calendar is designed to improve the experience of the thousands of people who work in and visit the district every day. Participation in the Belfast City Marathon is one of many ways LQ BID brings organisations together while supporting causes that directly benefit the community.