FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More than 65 runners to chase Guinness World Records
A 3-D dinosaur, a polar bear, a horse and jockey, a man carrying a tumble
dryer, a four-person fire engine, an astronaut and Snow White - the runners
attempting to set new Guinness World Records (GWR) this year have been
revealed.
This year a total of 69 hopefuls will be attempting to set 55 new world
records at the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 24 April in the ninth
successive year of a record-breaking partnership with GWR.
Runners choosing to target a Guinness World Records title not only have to
cope with running in an obstructive costume, being tied to other runners or
weighing themselves down but they also have to beat some incredible times
to become a record holder. This year will see four runners – including Sean
Fitzpatrick dressed as Disney character Elsa, from Frozen - looking to beat
a time of three hours. Other sub-three hour hopefuls include a nurse and a
chameleon.
Ian Bates, 45, from Crawley, West Sussex, will swap his day job as a bus
fleet engineer for a costume weighing 20kg when he runs the London Marathon
hoping to achieve the record for Fastest marathon dressed as a 3-D
dinosaur. Ian is running to raise money for St Catherine's Hospice in
Crawley who are dedicated to providing specialised end of life care and
support to local people, their families, friends and carers.
Gill Punt, 45, from Essex, has raised an amazing £250,000 for Cancer
Research UK following the death of her father and will take on the
26.2-mile challenge dressed as a polar bear, the official mascot of the
charity. To claim the title for Fastest marathon in a full body animal
costume (female) she will need to cross the Finish Line in under 4:30.
Team-running has become an extremely popular category in recent years, and
2016 continues the trend. This year, Chris Coulson and Thomas Church will
run together as a horse and jockey duo hoping to run the Fastest marathon
in a two-person costume. They will be running in support of The Get A-Head
Charitable Trust, an independent cancer charity supporting those with head
and neck diseases and cancer.
Joining them will be Lee Small, James Lafferty, Michael Palmer and Stevie
Clifford-Tucker, all firefighters from the London Fire Brigade, who will be
hoping to beat a time of 6:30 in their four-person fire engine to gain the
title of Fastest marathon in a four-person costume. They are celebrating
the 150th birthday of the London Fire Brigade and raising money for the
Fire Fighter's Charity.
Lisa Wilkinson, a 44-year-old mother of three from Reading, will complete
her 17th London Marathon (her 25th marathon in total) this year and to
celebrate the achievement she will be running for a place in the Guinness
World Records book dressed as Snow White. She is attempting to beat a time
of 3:39.49 to become the Fastest marathon dressed as a book character
(female) while raising money for the charity Action on Hearing Loss in
honour of her son who is deaf.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director for the Virgin Money London Marathon, said:
"We have enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Guinness World Records since
our partnership began in 2008. Record breaking adds another dimension to
the day and provides a great additional incentive for supporters to donate
to charitable causes. We're looking forward to a wonderful day as we
celebrate all our runners becoming #oneinamillion."
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