A team of runners from Hampshire is hoping to raise £10,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association by breaking the world record for the quickest six-person costume, a caterpillar, in a marathon.
The team, consisting of Rich Bidgood, Hugh Tibbs, Nick Wright, David Mills, James Bewley and Marcus Green, is aiming to break the record at the Manchester marathon in April.
The caterpillar is called the Philapillar after their friend Phil Rossall, who died of motor neurone disease in 2023.
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The team is raising money for the MND Association in Phil’s honour, a man who inspired others with his own fundraising efforts despite being diagnosed with the disease. Phil raised over £55,000 for the MND Association while he was alive and the team want to continue in his legacy.
Marcus Green said: “Despite his diagnosis, Phil retained incredible positivity, and lived his last years with purpose, breaking two Guinness World Records, writing two books and doing multiple blinking challenges in aid of the MND Association.
“Running for the MND Association, we aim to do something exceptional to grab people’s attention and use this platform to raise lots of money for the charity. Going for these Guinness World Records in the Philapillar costume is a great way to do this.
"We want to offer encouragement to those who are living or affected by the illness, but also make the public aware of how cruel this disease is, in the knowledge that their donations will help fund a cure and provide support for those with MND.”
TeamPhil has been training hard for the marathon. Running at exactly the same pace as five other people without seeing where your feet are for 26.2 miles is quite the challenge.
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Phil’s wife Brenda will be there to cheer on TeamPhil at the Manchester Marathon. She said: “It’s incredibly heart-warming to see the efforts TeamPhil are going to in order to continue what Phil started. I can’t think of a better way to honour him.”
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a fatal rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, attacking the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work. It kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis.
It’s a devastating disease that affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time and kills six people every day. There is no cure.
The MND Association focuses on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Head of Community Fundraising at the MND Association, Denise Davies, said: “Without the amazing support of people like Marcus and the whole Philapillar team, the MND Association simply would not be able to provide its vital support services, fund research to find a cure and campaign and raise awareness of MND.
"Together we are making a real difference for people affected by this devastating disease. We’re also especially touched that the spirit of Phil Rossall lives on in his friends and family’s efforts.”
To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/marcus-green13 or check out Facebook and instagram.
More information about MND and the MND Association please visit www.mndassociation.org.
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