24 October 2006
This year’s Beachy Head Marathon includes the ultimate challenge as Peter Ferris MBE celebrates both his 51st birthday and 250th marathon in a quadruple charity marathon bid.
Running the scenic Beachy Head Marathon course across the South Downs and Seven Sisters on 28 October, Peter will follow the challenging run with both the Snowdonia and Dublin marathons on 29 and 30 October, before jetting off to the USA for the New York Marathon on 5 November. Peter has already proven his adaptability and stamina having previously ran across the Sahara, Mount Everest and Antarctica.
Eastbourne Borough Council Spokesperson for Tourism, Councillor David Elkin, says, “It is a great recommendation for the Beachy Head Marathon that somebody with so much marathon experience chooses to run here. As the sixth biggest marathon in the UK, and one of the most scenic, we are beginning to see some real challengers and have already broken our own personal best with record entries for this year.”
Peter will be just one of many with a personal challenge, including Stuart Mills, who hopes to make it into the record books by being first across the finish line for five years in a row, and blind runner Peter Watts, running his first off road marathon.
Having already raised £250,000 in 249 marathons for cancer charities such as Macmillan Cancer and Cancer Research UK, Peter Ferris also holds the record for running two marathons in two consecutive days in two different continents, after he ran in London and Boston last year.
Peter Ferris, MBE from County Derry says “I have run the Beachy Head Marathon many times and rate this as one of the most scenic and challenging marathons in the world. It is well organised, has plenty of feeding and water stations, plenty of hot showers and hot food afterwards and even a swimming pool for the runners use. What other marathon can offer this? It even has a lone piper at the start of the marathon and the marshals are so friendly.”
For more information about Peter Ferris, or to sponsor him for a marathon, please visit his website uk.geocities.com/run4peter/home.htm.
Started by the Mayor of Eastbourne, the Beachy Head Marathon kicks off at 9am on Saturday 28 October at St Bedes School in Eastbourne, by the start of the South Downs Way. Sponsored by Rix and Kay Solicitors the marathon has achieved its biggest entry yet with 1,750 runners, joggers and walkers. Spectators can enjoy spectacular South Downs views and cheer on participants at the start/finish line by St Bedes (9am and noon onwards), as well as en route at Bo Peep Hill, Birling Gap and Beachy Head.
For more information on the Beachy Head Marathon visit www.beachyheadmarathon.org.uk or telephone the Tourist Information Centre on 0906 711 2212 (calls cost 50p per minute at standard rate).
