Amanda from The Traitors visits Sussex Beacon ahead of Brighton Half Marathon

The Sussex Beacon was “delighted” to welcome The Traitors star Amanda and her wife Caroline, who'll be running for #TeamBeacon, for a visit this week, as excitement builds ahead of the Brighton Half Marathon on 1 March. The couple toured the charity’s Brighton facility, meeting staff and hearing about its future plans to support people living with HIV.

During the visit, Caroline proudly held the vest she’ll be wearing on race day, while Amanda sported one of the special edition vests gifted to runners who have taken part in the event two or more times. The Sussex Beacon described the visit as a warm and energising moment for the team as they prepare for one of their biggest fundraising weekends of the year.

This year’s Brighton Half Marathon is set to be one of the most high‑profile yet, with more than 10,000 runners expected to take on the 13.1‑mile seafront course. Among them will be BAFTA‑nominated singer and actor Olly Alexander, who has been announced as the official race starter before he joins the run himself in support of Team Beacon. Alexander said he had “fallen in love with the charity and the work they do”, calling it vital for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV. 

Olly Alexander announced as official race starter of Brighton Half Marathon

The Brighton Half Marathon, the biggest fundraiser for local HIV charity Sussex Beacon, has announced BAFTA-nominated actor and award-winning singer/songwriter, Olly Alexander, as the official race starter of the half marathon. Olly Alexander said: “It’s an honour to be asked to officially start the Brighton Half Marathon! Then

Scene MagazineGraham Robson

Alexander’s involvement has already generated significant buzz around the event, with organisers confirming he will set runners off at Hove Lawns before tackling the route past iconic Brighton landmarks including the Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion, the West Pier, the i360 and Brighton Marina. The event is the single largest annual fundraiser for The Sussex Beacon, raising more than £1 million each year for charities across Sussex and beyond.

With a record number of Team Beacon runners taking part this year, the charity is aiming to surpass its 2025 fundraising total of more than £120,000. The weekend will also include a dedicated wheelchair race and a series of youth races for runners aged seven to 17.