London Marathon 2024: Agriculture plays its part
© MAG/Dan Smith Courageous members of the farming community tackled the London Marathon on Sunday (21 April) and raised thousands of pounds for charity.
A team of three NFU staff – Emma Crosby, Jen Cox and Lizzy Milne – completed the gruelling 26.2-mile course to raise more than £5,000 so far for Farm Africa.
Lizzy said: “It was an incredible experience, like nothing I have ever done before and all for an amazing cause.”
See also: 2023: A year of farmers achieving amazing feats for charity
NFU Norfolk county adviser Flora Archer completed the course in 4hrs 16mins, raising more than £4,500 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Staffordshire farmer Katie Alice-Healey raised more than £4,100 for the Children with Cancer UK charity. To boost her fundraising efforts, Katie held a charity sheep auction at Bakewell Market.
Farmers Weekly chief reporter Philip Case tackled his first London Marathon (fifth marathon overall) to raise almost £1,400 for the Farming Community Network.
Philip said: “That was the best running experience of my life. The crowd was electric. Thank you to everyone who sponsored me.”
NFU Team Africa runners with their medals; left to right, Lizzy Milne, Jen Cox and Emma Crosby © NFU
Farmers Weekly chief reporter Philip Case with his medal © MAG/Philip Case
Former FW Machinery reporter Edd Mowbray © Edd Mowbray
World record smashed
Farmers Weekly‘s managing director Dan Smith and the red bus team have their Guinness World Record bid certified © MAG/Dan Smith
Dan Smith, managing director of Farmers Weekly, attempted the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon in a 10-person costume – as part of a red bus.
Each team member was dressed as an everyday hero. Dan went dressed as a farmer, donning a gilet, checked shirt and a hat.
The team smashed the previous record of 6hrs 55mins to record a new world record of 6hrs 32mins. In doing so, they have so far raised more than £33,500 for Breast Cancer Now.
Dan said: “It was everything I hoped the event would be – and so much more – even though it was agony!”
Former FW machinery reporter, Edd Mowbray, who now works for farming PR company ABC Communications, ran his first London Marathon in 3hrs 54mins, raising more than £3,600 for Headway – The Brain Injury Association.
Farmers Weekly’s podcast and projects editor Johann Tasker volunteered at the London Marathon © MAG/Johann Tasker
Farmers Weekly podcast and projects editor Johann Tasker, was among volunteers, handing out water to runners at mile 20.
He said: “I have never opened so many bottles of water in such a short space of time!”