Local fundraiser Radek Evans is taking his charity efforts to the next level, aiming to complete 24 half marathons by next February—11 more than he originally planned. His fundraising efforts have seen him take part in runs across Europe, as well as in the UK, sometimes dressed as an elephant!
Initially, Radek pledged to complete 12 half marathons in one year. However, after surpassing his target with his 13th half marathon at Frome’s Running Festival on 18th August, he decided to extend his challenge.
“I thought I would up the challenge to 24 half marathons so that I can keep going,” explained Radek, who is raising funds for Fair Frome, a family charity, Purple Elephant, Frome Carnival and the Frome branch of the Macular Society, which has a sport group at the cricket ground every week.
“I have so far raised around £700 and have an overall target of £2,400. I am taking into consideration that we are living in a cost-of-living crisis and so it might take slightly longer to raise the money.”
Radek has been well-known in the local area for taking part in running events dressed in an elephant costume, after he ran the Bath Half Marathon last year in the outfit for Purple Elephant.
Of all the half marathons he has completed so far, Radek, who dedicates much of his time to supporting Frome charities and volunteering for local groups, says he has taken part in some official running events and has completed some of his own half marathons.
“My favourite place to do a half marathon was Stockholm! I followed a nice cycle route. I got a bit lost but it was really nice.”
Radek’s fundraising journey has even seen him complete around 48 laps of a cruise ship in the Baltics in two hours and 20 minutes. “I found out after that this might be a world record. The GPS out at sea did not work on my phone, so it’s a bit difficult to verify it now. I was not dressed as an elephant for that one. The elephant does not have a passport so I could not take him. I was also not allowed to bring an elephant on the cruise ship!
“I also have never seen anyone run this amount of half marathons dressed as an elephant, so that might be a world record too.
“The main reason I am doing this is to raise funds for smaller local charities which might be struggling because they do not get much support because they are not so well-known.”
To support Radek’s fundraising, visit his JustGiving page – https://shorturl.at/vzDEO
