London Marathon farmers raise thousands for charity

Farmers and colleagues running the London marathon have raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Lincolnshire farmer Chris Hewis completed the course in 5 hours 9 minutes to support charity Kidney Research UK and help out a fellow farmer awaiting a kidney transplant.

See also: Farmer runs London Marathon dressed as tractor

Mr Hewis, who is president of Laceby Young Farmers’ Club, ran the 26.2-mile course to support Matthew Denby, chairman of Lincolnshire Young Farmer’s Clubs (YFC).

Mr Denby said: “I had kidney failure in 2007 due to E coli and I was on dialysis for a while. I’m now at about 18% kidney function, but it’s going down, so I will need a transplant.”

Fellow Lincolnshire farmer Craig Williamson ran the marathon to raise more than £7,800 in aid of the Notts & Lincs Air Ambulance.

Mr Williams ran the marathon in 6 hours 51 minutes dressed as a Massey Ferguson tractor.

Meanwhile, Suffolk-based farm software consultant Annabel James battled the heat to complete the course in an impressive 4 hours 12 minutes.

Ms James raised more than £3,780 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.

International charity Farm Africa was also supported by runners.

They included Thomas Strong (4 hours 23 mins), John Underwood (4 hours 57 minutes) and Holly Dunlop (5 hours 55 mins).

See more