Leicester Racecourse marathon fundraising day
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 13 June 2019
The founder of the Leicester theatre charity Bamboozle will run his first marathon on Saturday June 22 at the age of 71 as the climax of a year of fundraising for Bamboozle’s world-renowned work for learning disabled children.
Christopher Davies, from Aylestone, has already cycled up the classic Tour de France climb Col du Tourmalet during a four day 309-mile challenge across the Pyrenees and this month conquered the national Three Peaks in 30 hours.
Now he wants people of Leicester and beyond to join in or support the marathon during a Family Fete Day at Leicester Racecourse, the last event of his 70seventy challenge to raise £70,000 in a year after his 70th birthday. He’ll be 71 on June 21.
Runners, either solo runners or relay teams, can line up alongside the 20 teams and counting and those tackling the whole 26 miles and 385 yards.
From 10am to 3pm, whilst the marathon runners are doing their 10 laps of the 2.6 mile long racecourse, there will be drama, music and puppetry from Bamboozle artists, stalls and table top games.
The Bamboozle Marathon is sponsored by Market Harborough recruitment company Vanilla and supported by Niche Magazine, Rossell Fitness and Leicester Racecourse.
Teams taking part include Paragon Solutions, Rossell Fitness, Soar Valley Press, DHL, Vanilla, LLEP, Torr Waterfield and Niche. Bamboozle staff and friends are in two teams and there are three teams with families of children that Bamboozle helps.
Christopher said:
“Saturday June 22 will not just be a fun day for all at Leicester Racecourse and a challenge for more than 100 runners, it will be an important fundraiser so Bamboozle can help even more children and their families.
“As a charity Bamboozle needs to constantly fundraise to provide our multi-sensory experiences for the most severely disabled children in the East Midlands and beyond. The more support we get, the more we can do.”
Neil Mayo, from Farnsfield, is in a relay marathon team which also includes his son Bailey. Bamboozle helped Neil’s daughter Amy who was starved of oxygen during her 2003 birth, suffering brain damage and left with severe Cerebral Palsy.
Neil, who also rode over the Pyrenees, said:
“Charities like Bamboozle rely on every donation they can get. I’m really looking forward to taking part and sharing the day with a group of amazing people we regard as our ‘Bamboozle family’ who have done so much for my disabled daughter and us over the years.”
Eloise Shelton from Vanilla Recruitment is also part of a marathon relay team. She said:
“I’ve supported Bamboozle for more than a decade. They make such a massive difference to the lives of children and their families. And I have got so much respect for Christopher. He’s taken on a phenomenal challenge. Hats off to him.”
The Bamboozle Marathon follows hot on the heels of the National Three Peaks challenge, which saw Christopher and four supporters climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 30 hours in atrocious weather.
Christopher, Bamboozle actor Kayleigh Stoneley and husband James, Rob Abell from Will Planning Solutions and Ben Stocking from Jonstar Energy Brokers faced gales on Ben Nevis, mountain cloud in the Lakes and cold winds atop Snowdon. Rob had also been on the Pyrenees ride with Christopher last September.
Christopher said:
“On Ben Nevis we faced the worst conditions I have experienced on a mountain. To then go on after being so wet and cold to climb Scafell Pike and Snowdon, and all in 30 hours, showed great team spirit and commitment.”
The five climbers were welcomed at the foot of Snowdon by their driving team of Abi Wilkin and Gordon Robson and other family and friends for a celebratory champagne toast at almost midnight on Monday June 3.
Almost £30,000 has been raised so far. For details of how to get involved in the Bamboozle Marathon or donate:
bamboozletheatre.co.uk/make-a-difference/70seventy/
Photo: Bamboozle Parks: (l-r) Ben Stocking, Rob Abell, Christopher Davies, supporter Abi Wilkin, James & Kayleigh Stonley. At the front is supporter Gordon Robson.
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