A man obsessed with baked beans from Port Talbot is hoping to set a new ‘world record’ by becoming the first person to complete the Virgin Money London Marathon while carrying his favourite meal – baked beans on toast.
Captain Beany, 64, changed his name to Captain Beany by deed poll and set up the UK’s first and only Baked Bean Museum of Excellence after becoming obsessed with baked beans. Since his rise to fame for his unusual love and passion for beans, he has used his profile to raise vital funds for charities.
Captain, a charity fundraiser and campaigner, decided to come up with a challenge to raise money for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading charity for children and young people with cancer, after hearing about the work of the charity at his local Morrisons store when he volunteered for bucket collecting for World Cancer Day.
Captain said: “During the weeks of fundraising with CLIC Sargent at Morrisons, I read up the support that the charity provides – the financial, emotional and practical support to children and young people with cancer and their families. It just really struck a chord with me as I have also had family and friends who have required the same necessary support.”
With bucket collections and local fundraising, Captain has already managed to raise more than £2,000 towards his fundraising target. This year’s London Marathon will be his 11th time running the famous race.
His record attempt this April follows Captain’s 1986 world record for lying for 100 hours in a bath of cold baked beans and other wacky charitable stunts. Most recently, Captain, whose head is tattooed with baked beans, featured on Blind Date on ITV.
Between his charity efforts at his local supermarket and running the museum in his home, Captain has been training for the marathon.
“I’m slowly but surely building up the mileage now with a balance between short and long runs but needless to say, the training and the straining are both proving harder as one gets older!
“The most I have done is 18 miles but I’m positive I can manage to make it and determined to cross the finishing line! Just before the Marathon I am going to have a warm up session running from the Morrisons in Port Talbot to the Neath branch with a plate of baked beans on toast.
“The thing that I am looking forward to the most is soaking up the spectating atmosphere and keeping my eye out for the CLIC Sargent cheering team and after race celebrations!
“I shall be donning my pre-printed baked bean ‘beandana’, baked bean tee shirt, shorts and baked bean socks for the Marathon. I shall have the CLIC Sargent logo emblazoned on the front for all to see.”
Captain, who describes himself as the ‘proverbial runner bean’ said he also hopes to finish the course off by not ‘spilling the beans’.
Jade Clarke, Major Runs Project Manager at CLIC Sargent, said: “When cancer strikes young lives we fight tirelessly to limit the damage it causes beyond their health.
“We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work and so we can’t thank Captain for his incredible efforts. From fundraising in his local store with bucket collections to thinking of every wacky and wonderful way he can raise money, we are so thankful to have his support.
“We’ll be there on the day cheering him and his plate of baked beans on toast all the way to the finish line!”
To sponsor and support Captain’s marathon challenge, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/captainbeanylondonmarathon2019.
