Centenarian marathon runner, Fauja Singh, is gearing up to pound
the streets of London, raising money for charity as he
goes.
101-year-old Fauja, who last October completed the Toronto
Waterfront Marathon in just over eight hours, 25 minutes, will take
on the iconic Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April, with
support from bookmakers, William Hill, who has pledged to donate
their charity bet that he will beat his previous record.
William Hill is offering odds of 5 to 1 with a stake of £200 if
Fauja finishes the 26.2 mile route in less than eight hours, 25
minutes and 16 seconds, with the £1,000 payout going directly to
TeamPB, the first joint official charity partnership of the Virgin
London Marathon.
If Fauja fails to beat his personal best, William Hill has
pledged to donate the stake to TeamPB - the joint running team of
The Prostate Cancer Charity and Breast Cancer Care - to reach their
goal of £1 million to support the 750,00 affected by prostate and
breast cancers in the UK.
Born in India in 1911, Fauja Singh was a farmer in the Punjab
but moved to Britain in the 1990s and puts his stamina down to
ginger curry, tea, God and "being happy".
Fauja, who lives in Ilford, East London, said: "The secret to a
long and healthy life is to be stress-free. Be grateful for
everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, keep
smiling and keep running."
His trainer Harmander Singh who will be running his 59th
marathon (28th consecutive London Marathon) said: "Fauja's
achievement has been a tremendous inspiration for others who have
taken up running having watched him. It's fitting that being a
Londoner, he is able to achieve the feat in theUK and in his home
city. We are hoping that people from all communities will come out
on the day and join us to support and cheer him and the other
thousands of runners taking part"
Graham Sharpe, Media Relations Director at William Hill, said:
'Fauja is the oldest subject for any bet I have taken during my 40
years with William Hill, but I have no doubt that his unrivalled
experience of his event and his impeccable preparation for a
challenge which would daunt many a person a mere fraction of his
age will help him beat the odds and become the oldest gambler ever
to win £1000 from William Hill, which will then go to this
worthiest of causes.'
Mark Bishop, Director of Fundraising at The Prostate Cancer
Charity, added: "We would like to wish Fauja the best of luck with
this amazing endeavour and a huge thank you to William Hill for
their support in helping us to reach our £1 million fundraising
target."
Judy Beard, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Breast
Cancer Care said: "We hear so many amazing and moving stories from
all our runners, but to still be running marathons at the age of
101 is especially inspiring. Good luck to Fauja and thank you!"