You may not have got that ballot place you applied for, but don’t be too disappointed because you can still be part of the 2011 Virgin London marathon.

Here at Teacher Support Network we know that teaching is a fantastic and valuable profession. It can be incredibly rewarding but also a real challenge. In fact for some teachers every lesson can be a marathon and unlike most runners they won’t be getting a medal or applause when they cross the finish line. Instead they will continue to be bullied, stressed, overworked, in debt or even worse.

By becoming part of the Teacher Support team you can help us to support these teachers and help them reach their full potential, and by implication children to reach theirs.

Here's some of the ways your money can help:

• £25 will pay for a trained advisor to staff our Support Line for 30 minutes
• £250 will help us to make an emergency payment to a teacher in need
• £500 will help a retired teacher pay for respite care.

However, if it was relief rather than disappointment you felt upon finding out you didn’t have a place maybe a half marathon might be the thing for you.

Either way we have a place in a running event to suit you. With places in the Adidas Silverstone Half marathon as well as the London marathon why not join the Teacher Support team and help us to continue supporting thousands of teachers each year.

The Virgin LondonMarathon

• 17th April 2011
• Registration fee - £50
• Required sponsorship - £1950.
• Deadline for registration - 10th December 2010.

Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon

• 6th March 2011
• Registration fee – £25
• Required sponsorship – £275
• Deadline for registration – February 2011

To apply all you have to do is click here and fill in a short application form.

Here’s what some of last year’s runner felt about running for Teacher Support Network:

"I wanted to raise money for Teacher Support Network as being a teacher myself it is a profession I love and want to support. I also had to retrain with my GTP at 27 and could have done with the support. I wanted to run for teachers everywhere and for the memory of the teachers who inspired me to go into this profession." -- Hayley, Virgin London Marathon

"I wanted to support a charity that I felt strongly about. Teachers have a tremendous impact and I feel are often overlooked and underappreciated. In addition, as a former teacher, I really appreciate and understand that teachers need and deserve support so couldn’t imagine running for a better charity." -- Danielle,  Silverstone Half Marathon