A supporter of Winchester Churches Nightshelter is attempting to break the World Record for running a marathon in a sleeping bag!
Winchester resident Ben Burfoot, 44, is raising money for the Nightshelter by trying to smash the current World Record for running a marathon in a sleeping bag, which currently sits at 3 hours, 44 minutes and 1 second. Ben is also hoping to raise awareness of homelessness in his city and encourage the Nightshelter’s community of residents, staff and volunteers to become more active by inviting them to join in during his training sessions ahead of the London Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 28th April 2019.
Ben, an experienced marathon runner, launched his sleeping bag challenge at Winchester ParkRun on Saturday 1st February, where he was joined by Nightshelter representatives and supporters. He said: “I am no stranger to running marathons and wanted to do something a bit different, that would take me into the unknown and also enable me to shine a spotlight on a vital local cause. I’m excited to be fundraising for Winchester Churches Nightshelter, which helps hundreds of people escape homelessness each year. Running in a sleeping bag for a few hours will certainly be a challenge for me, but it’s nothing compared to the challenges faced by those sleeping rough, which is something I wanted to highlight.”
You can follow Ben’s journey on social media using the hashtag #MoreThanASleepingBag and support him at www.virginmoneygiving.com/BenBurfoot
