A dad-of-two from Birmingham is taking on a marathon challenge dressed as a snail, hoping the public will ‘shell’ out to back a good cause. Scott Campbell from Great Barr is heading to the capital this weekend, aiming to slither across the finish line of the London Marathon on Sunday (April 26).
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Scott will be donning a mollusc costume, ready to shout at other runners: ‘You’ve been overtaken by a snail.’ Sunday will mark Scott’s 12th London Marathon, and this time he is raising money for the RSPCA. The charity rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes thousands of animals across the UK every year, including in the West Midlands.
Scott, father to five-year-old Freddie and six-month-old Louie, hopes his snail outfit will raise smiles and cash for the good cause. Donations can be made via his fundraising page at www.sponsorscott.com.
He said: “I wanted to do something a bit different this year to grab attention and boost donations, so I thought I’d come out of my shell and go for it as a snail. It’s not exactly built for speed, but that’s part of the fun. If I can keep going and raise money along the way, I’ll be happy, and if I manage to overtake anyone, that’s just a bonus. No one wants to be overtaken by a snail.”
A Champion Runner
Scott is a former karate champion and black belt, and he has completed more than 100 half marathons. He previously set a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon dressed as a chef while raising money for Birmingham charity Love Brum. His record-breaking run earned him support from well-known names including Glynn Purnell, Jasper Carrott, Ali Campbell of UB40, Joe Wicks, and Steve Backshall.
To prepare for this year’s marathon, Scott has completed two 20-mile training runs in Milton Keynes, alongside events including the Kettering Half Marathon, Drayton Manor 10K, Birmingham Running Festival, and a half marathon through Cannock Chase. He also regularly runs at Perry Hall parkrun and has picked up fitness tips from friend and fitness personality Mr Motivator.
He continued: “When you’ve done it this many times, it can feel like you’re asking the same people again and again. I’m hoping the costume helps me break out of that and gives people a reason to get behind it. I just want to raise as much as I can for the RSPCA. If you love animals or have a pet at home, please give whatever you can. And if you spot a giant snail struggling around London, give me a cheer.”
