Frome fundraiser completes 60 half marathons challenge

Local fundraiser Radek Evans has completed a mammoth challenge – running 60 half marathons in a year to raise nearly £2,000 for Frome charities and organisations, often dressed as an elephant. 

Radek originally set out in February last year to run 12 half marathons in 12 months, but after completing his 13th half marathon at Frome’s Running Festival last August, he decided to extend his challenge.

His efforts have seen him run 920 miles across Europe, as well as in the UK, raising funds for Frome charities including Fair Frome, family charity Purple Elephant and Frome Carnival.

“My main highlight of the challenge has been being out there, raising money and making people laugh,” says Radek, who dedicates much of his time to supporting Frome charities and volunteering for local groups. “Most of the time I have been running in my elephant costume.”

Some of the half marathons were official races, while others were organised by Radek himself.

The challenge even saw Radek run 48 laps on a cruise ship in the Baltics in two hours and 20 minutes, which he thinks may be a world record.

“The GPS didn’t work at sea, so it’s hard to verify now,” he said. “I wasn’t dressed as an elephant for that one – the elephant doesn’t have a passport and I wasn’t allowed to bring him on the ship!”

Radek added, “I’ve also never seen anyone run this many half marathons dressed as an elephant, so that might be a world record too. Throughout the whole challenge, I’ve enjoyed bringing laughter and smiles to people’s faces.”