A veteran runner wearing an ‘Adam fig leaf’ costume saw the cheers from the crowd and the cash for his chosen charity roll in when he completed Sunday’s TCS London Marathon.
Bob Deacon, 75, who ran his first marathon 42 years ago, crossed the finish line in 4hr 38min and was featured on BBC TV’s coverage more than once.
And the Furneux Pelham resident, who has raised over £2,000 for Mencap, will return to the capital in 12 months for his 10th attempt after being a massive 32 minutes inside his good for age qualifying time for next year’s event.
“Family reasons prompted me to approach Mencap when I ran my inaugural marathon way back in 1982,” said Bob.
“The idea of the ‘Adam’ outfit came about in 1986 when supporters suggested I dress as a giant gorilla so they could pick me out.
“I didn’t fancy something so big and cumbersome, so opted for the fig leaf costume so I’d be easy to spot and also allow me to run a fast time in such a lightweight costume.”
At the other end of the age spectrum, 22-year-old Michela Wilde took on the challenge to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Research in honour of two special friends.
She ran for her late boss and 2022 Indies Person of Courage winner Hayley Lynskey, who died this month, having worked for her for two years.
Hayley, who had terminal cancer, owned the Bishop’s Stortford and Stansted breakfast and after-school clubs Early Birds and Night Owls. The marathon took place the day after her funeral.
Michela, who registered a time of 4hr 19min 17sec, also ran for family friend Jo O’Brien, who was diagnosed with the disease in November and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
She has raised £2,080. Donate at https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/michela-wilde to help her hit her £2,500 target.
Children’s cancer nurse Tiffany Carpenter put a freak accident behind her to complete the 26.2 miles in 4:21.25.
The 42-year-old Stansted resident was running along Brixton Lane, between Rickling Green and Manuden, when she was attacked by a bird of prey - believed to be a red kite - and suffered a nasty facial injury during a training run last month.
The married mum of two, who works at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, entered the race to fundraise for Leukaemia Care and has smashed her £2,000 target, with the total currently at £2,555. See www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tiffany-carpenter1 to donate.
Guide dogs puppy raiser Emma Abegglen, from Bishop’s Stortford, stopped the watch at 4:22.29 as she completed a big personal challenge.
The race represented the climax of an eight-month running schedule that has seen her clock up 346km since last summer – 1km for every £100 it costs to raise a guide dog puppy for a person with sight loss.
Emma, 55, who is head of computer science at Bishop’s Stortford College, has so far raised £2,117 of her £3,460 target for the charity Guide Dogs. Visit www.justgiving.com/page/emma-abegglen-1692094913914 to add your support.
A Stortford dad who was told his brain cancer was a panic attack completed the course in a time of 4:02.32 as he continued his fundraising mission for Brain Tumour Research.
Ed Lewis, 36, a civil engineer originally from Brecon in Wales, was diagnosed with a grade 3 oligodendroglioma following a seizure in June 2022. His tumour is now stable and being monitored with three-monthly scans.
He set out to raise £10,000 for the good cause just months after finishing chemotherapy and has almost doubled that, with the total currently at £19,521. See www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ed-Lewis2024 to add to the amount.
The father of young Archie Wilks, whose groundbreaking post-cancer treatment was made possible by a £233,193 appeal fund, ran the race to help other families caring for a child with cancer.
Simon Wilks, 34, who works for Stortford insurance broker Sterling, and his wife Harriet, a former Herts and Essex High School girl, spent four years navigating the NHS system before their son, now seven, was ready for pioneering therapy in the United States.
Simon crossed the finish line in 3:48.20 and has so far raised £2,384. Go to https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/archieanddad to add to his total.
A team of 11 runners have raised a huge £30,000 and counting for Hastingwood-based St Clare Hospice.
Carla, Danielle, Hannah, Jon, Keely, Kelly, Laurel, Martin, Tom, Victoria J and Victoria M all took part to generate vital funds for the charity which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses across the West Essex and East Herts border.
St Elizabeth’s coffers have been boosted to the tune of £9,500 thanks to a six-strong squad of fundraising runners.
Laura, Danny, Jonathan, Igors, Harry and Dean took on the challenge for the Perry Green-based charity which specialises in the care and education of those with epilepsy and complex health needs.
