"World’s Fastest Leprechaun" enters the London Marathon
Howard Lake | 20 April 2010 | News
Sailors’ Society fundraiser takes on Guinness World Record
33 year old Tom Story is no stranger to the demands of the London Marathon, but when he pulls on his running shoes this week he’s given himself the extra challenge of breaking a Guinness World Record as he raises funds for global maritime charity, the Sailors’ Society.
Tom will be attempting to break the existing record of 4 hours 22 minutes and 7 seconds for the fastest Leprechaun to run the London Marathon. According to legend, Leprechauns are most often found making or mending shoes, but Tom plans to be wearing his out when he takes on the 26.2 mile run on Sunday 25 April. Speaking of his decision to run in the heavy jacket and tall hat of a Leprechaun, Tom said:
“It started as a joke, someone suggesting that I run in fancy dress, but once I got the idea of the world record attempt, I thought it would be a great way to draw more attention to the charity I’m running for. The Sailors’ Society provides a personal lifeline for seafarers on board ships and at ports across the globe. They offer practical, emotional and spiritual help to the thousands of seafarers, who are often considered the invisible or forgotten workforce, through Seafarers’ Centres and their network of dedicated Port Chaplains. I am hoping that running as a Leprechaun will help me raise a pot of gold for them so they can carry on their good work!”
Director of Fundraising Jan Webber added:
“We’re delighted that Tom has decided to raise funds for the Sailors’ Society for his record breaking attempt. We’ll be there on the day to cheer on all of our marathon runners, and will be on the look out for his large bright green hat zipping by as he takes on the world record.”
To sponsor Tom Story and register your support for the Sailors’ Society, visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tom-Story
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Notes to Editors
The Sailors’ Society is an international charity that provides a personal lifeline for seafarers throughout the world. Existing to enrich and enhance the well-being of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers, the charity offers practical help, emotional and spiritual support and, when in dire need, financial assistance and family liaison through our Port Chaplains and Seafarers’ Centres. Our Port Chaplains visit thousands of ships every year, directly addressing the needs of seafarers – irrespective of a person’s belief or nationality – as well as maintaining vital links within the Ports that they operate. The Sailors’ Society is backing the IMO Year of the Seafarer campaign with a new fundraising drive asking for just £1 for every seafarer the charity aims to reach in 2010.
For more information, please visit www.sailors-society.org, or contact Zoë Mitchell at Logical Creative Marketing on: 0845 345 69 69 or email: zo*@lc*.uk
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.