In October of 2008, Gauhar Bramley-Fenton (the founder and Race Director of the Astana Marathon) and Saule Kudaibergenova (a former Agip KCO employee) arrived at the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London to support the Air Astana runners, a mixed-ability group. During the event, while sharing photos and talking on the grass of Hyde Park, the idea of organizing an Astana Marathon was born. The four of them – Gauhar, Saule, Janar Jailauova (Air Astana) and Gani Toxanbaev (former Credit Suisse Kazakhstan Vice President) – were determined to make it a reality. On September 26th, 2009, the very first charity run in Astana was held, and it was a great success, collecting 972,994.00 Tenge for SOS Children’s Villages and Astana Children’s Home.