A SUPPORTER of Frome cancer charity, We Hear You, has raised £2,700 by running the Bath Half Marathon in a full beekeeper’s suit and wellies – along with setting a new world record.
Experienced runner, Sam Landrigan, completed the 13.1 mile distance in two hours 36-minutes and pending official verification, is now officially ‘the fastest beekeeper in the West’!
Sam said, “I’ve always wanted to try and break a world record. I looked into whether there was one for running in a beekeeper’s suit and there wasn’t, so I jumped on it! There is a link as I do keep bees as well.
“The run on the day was pretty warm in the suit – funnily enough the feet only started hurting at about mile nine. It was the temperature that I found the hardest, even in the 100 per cent breathable suit that had been lent to me by BBWear. But I kept going, largely down to the support on the day, which was incredible.
“We have fairly close links to WHY in that my children’s school supports them quite a lot and I couldn’t think of a better charity to run for.
“Friends and family have been incredibly generous and I’ve raised £1,360, which will be matched by the company I work for, Galliford Try. I’m overwhelmed by the generosity and I’m so glad that I’ve raised just over £2,700 for such a great charity.”
Gemma Wilkes from WHY said, “Thanks so much to Sam and our 19-strong team who took on the Bath Half on 16th October. We’re so proud and grateful to all our fundraisers, but it’s fair to say Sam’s challenge was the most eye-catching!
“The money raised will pay for 61 counselling sessions for a child, young person or adult, to work through difficult feelings with one of our specialist counsellors.”
To find out more about We Hear You’s free specialist services for people affected or bereaved by cancer and life-threatening conditions, visit wehearyou.org.uk
Pictured: Sam Landrigan with fellow runners Helen and Luigi before the marathon.
