Reverse thinking! The former police officer, 46, is running the BACKWARDS London Marathon to raise money for Ukraine
A former police officer plans to run the entire London Marathon back in time to raise money to help those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Tom Harrison, 46, of Amersham, Buckinghamshire, decided to stand out from the crowd by running an already 26.2-mile backcountry run.
While his fellow joggers will see the backs of people’s heads, Tom will be able to see their faces as he embarks on his latest freak challenge.
The former police officer previously captured the public’s attention when he decided to crawl through the entire marathon dressed as a gorilla in 2017.
The philanthropist also challenged himself to walk from Cornwall to London – an estimated 255 miles – all in the name of raising money.
Tom Harrison, 46, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, decided to stand out from the crowd by running an already 26.2-mile back
Tom, now a project manager, was counting on the kindness of strangers as he embarked on his three-day trip to the capital.
In this year’s London Marathon, he’s raising money for the Red Cross – who help those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Tom says he wanted to do something different and “weird” to draw attention to his fundraiser.
In this year’s London Marathon, he’s raising money for the Red Cross – who help those affected by the war in Ukraine
He added, “Running backwards gives you a new perspective. I was able to see the path I took and the footprints I left behind.”
Tom, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Tell Metro.co.uk: I could have done more backward walking, but it’s hard to acclimate alongside my usual forward walking.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if someone said, ‘You’re going the wrong way, my friend!'” ”
He added, “Running backwards gives you a new perspective. I was able to see the path I took and the footprints I left behind.
Tom says he’s going to get into a bowl of porridge, which will provide him with some much-needed fuel before he begins his final challenge.
Through Colors of Ukraine, Tom posted his number on Instagram so people could look him up
The ex-police officer previously captured the public’s attention when he decided to crawl through the entire marathon dressed as a gorilla in 2017.
To make sure he wouldn’t get in the way of the other runners, Tom said he would start the race later.
While he did not practice walking backwards when traveling to places, he did try to develop the skill in a nearby park and quiet streets.
He added that the support from his sons, Alex and Nicholas — who were photographed in matching gorilla outfits when he crawled through the marathon — will keep him strong and resolute.
You can donate to Tom’s fundraiser here.
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