Gold run for leprechaun Ben
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World record holder Ben
Afforselles
A supporter of the Kent Air
Ambulance has set a new Guinness world record for the fastest marathon runner
dressed as a leprechaun.
Father-of-two Ben Afforselles, 42,
smashed the previous record of 4hr 22min held by Jack Lyons with his run in 3hrs
9mins.
He beat competition from four other
leprechauns in the hotly contested race for the title in the London Marathon in
April.
The Hamstreet resident came up with
the challenge after running the marathon in 2hrs and 58mins the previous
year.
He said: “Last year was an epic
achievement for me so when it came round this year I thought I would do
something slightly different.
“I saw an article about the fastest
leprechaun so I decided to do it in fancy dress.
“I was absolutely confident that I
would beat the previous record so my main concern was that one of the other
leprechauns would be quicker than me.”
Ben raised about £400 for the Kent
Air Ambulance by getting colleagues to sponsor him to keep or shave off a
leprechaun beard he grew especially for his world record
attempt.
He was cheered on by his Irish wife
Kerry and children Tara and Finn as he crossed the finish line in the
traditional green colours of a leprechaun.
He added: “We went to
“I’m already thinking ahead and
whether to do it in fancy dress next year as well. I’ve not decided what outfit
yet but I’m looking to being the fastest alien.”
Ben works in strategic development
for AXA PPP healthcare which has chosen the Kent Air Ambulance as its charity of
the year.
Air Ambulance senior fundraiser Lynn
Hyder said: “To run the London Marathon is hard enough but to do it dressed like
a leprechaun must have been even more challenging.
“It’s truly amazing to have a World
record holder among our ranks and I take my hat off to Ben for coming up with
such a wacky way of raising money for us.”
