Dumbo to take flight as Frome mascot set to run Bath Half Marathon for local charity

RUNNERS at this year’s Bath Half Marathon will be joined by the Frome Children’s Festival popular mascot, Dumbo, who will be raising money and awareness for the local family support charity Purple Elephant.

The man behind the mask is local volunteer and charity champion, Radek Evans, who says he’s willing to go to extreme lengths to raise money and awareness for the local charity.

“When I first said I wanted to do this I don’t think people realised I was being serious as I’ve had basically no training – but I know I will be able to do this,” said Radek. “The website says you need about 14 weeks of training. Well, I’ve decided to do this with six weeks to go and with no background in running so I can see why people think I’m crazy!”

Speaking about Radek, Purple Elephant founder, Sue Willis, said, “Previously seen as a huge yellow duck character riding the zipwire over the river, Radek is amazing. He is already known to many Frome folk for his unpaid, volunteer work stewarding at the Frome Town Football Club, being a part of the Frome Carnival fundraising committee, supporting at Active and In Touch and the Frome Festival’s Open Garden’s events as well as being a Frome Town Council team noticeboard ambassador, trudging the town, whatever the weather.

“We are delighted that he has made this huge offer of running his first ever half-marathon for us!   He tells us that taking on challenged ‘in character’ make them easier, as it is Dumbo, not him, doing the hard work! We are very, very grateful and would encourage everyone to please sponsor him, to support us.”

Already honoured with two mayor’s Civic Awards for volunteering, one from Westbury in 2018 and a second from former Frome mayor Mark Dorrington in 2020, behind Radek’s enthusiasm, humour and hard work lies a life challenge that makes his determination even more impressive. Radek was born, and lives with, Klinefelter Syndrome, a relatively rare genetic condition which affects both muscle strength and co-ordination, making training for, and ultimately completing, the Bath Half Marathon a very tough ask indeed.

When asked why he has chosen to support the charity in this way, and what motivates him to do so much volunteer work, Radek said, “The run seemed like a crazy idea at first but I’m really into it now. I’ve really enjoyed supporting Purple Elephant before at their festival and on their Independent Market collection day, so they’re very close to my heart because they look after families.  It’s probably because of my own family that I do my volunteering.

“My mum has always told us we are here for a short time and all in it together, so that is how I’ve been brought up.  In fact, my first charity event was when I was six years old, at a United Nations event, so it must be in my blood.”

Anyone who sponsors Dumbo in this well-known 21km race will be helping to ensure that Purple Elephant continues to provide vital services for disadvantaged families in Frome.  Established in 2015, originally to run the one, annual Children’s Festival event, this small but very active charity has grown to now run stay-and-play sessions, a child-to-adult befriending services, free holiday activities with hot meals, an early-years parent support advice service and the Frome Toy Library with its pre-school sessions and toy-lending service.

Its work, based in the ethos that all children should have the same opportunities to learn and have fun, and with its focus firmly on a commitment to support social inclusion and integration in the community, means Purple Elephant spend time with a very diverse group of families, some facing the toughest of challenges – so anyone stepping up to fundraise within the community is something very much welcomed by the team.

Radek will be participating in the Bath Half Marathon on October 15th, using Local Giving donations to support Purple Elephant’s continued charity work in the community and wants to raise £1,000.

You can sponsor Radek and Dumbo by searching Dumbo Bath Half Marathon LocalGiving, visiting: https://localgiving. org/fundraising/DumboBathHalf/  or find details via Purple Elephant’s social media page.

Keep an eye-out for Dumbo around the town as Radek says he will be training in the Dumbo costume before the event.