Teenage Cancer Trust hosted a fantastic campaign launch on Brighton Pier last night, in order to fundraise for a new unit at The Royal Marsden hospital. The Brighton Marathon team stopped in to show their support and to encourage people to sign up and run for the charity in next year's race.

The 13-bed unit, which is due to open next June, will cost the Teenage Cancer Trust more than £3m to build.

It will mean that for the first time young cancer patients from across Kent, Sussex and Surrey will be treated with others their own age, in an environment suited to their needs.

Some very inspirational speeches were given by previous cancer patients, parents of patients and the TCT team. In true TCT style they also managed to inject some fun into the evening by way of fish and chips, bubbles and free rides on the dodgems. Needless to say the BM team had a thoroughly brilliant evening, complete with dodgem induced whiplash to prove it. I think we even spotted the new Mayor having a little fun on the dancefloor...

If you wish to run the Brighton Marathon for our Official National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust please visit here http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/get-involved/as-a-fundraiser/treks-and-challenges/brighton-marathon-2011/"

We are absolutely stunned with how well our first ever Brighton Marathon went and gather that the vast majority of you had a great day. However, we know that there are loads of things we need to work on in order to make the 2011 event bigger and better.

We’ve listened to what you’ve been saying by phone and email and of course have read comments on a variety of websites, so we are on the case! Amongst improvements and adjustments we’ll be making for the 2011 Brighton Marathon, are the following:

The Start

There will be more loos in the Start area - some will be for Runners Only!

We will have bigger signs indicating the Start Corrals.

We will have better music before the Start (sorry if you like loud Techno-funk, but the race director does not!).

We will have more catering at the Start.

The Course

We will have a sports drink station earlier in the race than 10 Miles.

We will have more music on the route generally.

We will make the Power Station loop (19-23 Miles) more interesting – more bands/music/support (but marathons are meant to be tough)!

We will make sure that the stretch along Hove Prom (23-25 miles) has separation between the runners and the spectators (this was planned, but we ran out of time to get the cones & rope in place).

We will have more crossing points for spectators on the route.

We're working on the pinch-points so you can enjoy unhindered running.

Finish

We will have easier exiting from the Repatriation Area at the Finish.

We will aim to provide transport from Repatriation to the centre of town (it’s less than a mile, but OK...you’re tired).

General

We will make sure there are no errors (as far as possible), in the Race Timing.

We will make sure there are no long queues at the Park & Ride sites.

We are planning to increase the size of the race – with caution.

We are planning to keep the entry fee the same as for 2010 for individuals.