Fun-loving Scout Leader Plans London Marathon Record - On Stilts
|
|
|
|
A fun-loving Bedfordshire Scout Leader plans to make the record books when she competes in April’s London Flora Marathon. For the 22 year old will be running the 26 miles 385 yards on four-foot high stilts and an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.
Beaver Scout Leader Michelle Frost first started stilt walking as a stunt at a Scout Jamboree when she was 12. She confessed, “I regularly fell over during ballet and tap dancing lessons so it was quite a thrill to find that I had this hidden talent for walking on stilts.” The Wootton Upper School pupil soon progressed to six foot stilts and a regular highlight appearance at local summer fetes. |
|
 |
Last year, at the World Scout Jamboree, she was made a member of the elite stilt walking unit and spent two weeks displaying her eye-catching talents. She said, “That was when I realised I could take on the London Marathon.”
Back at home in Bedford her elder sister, Samantha, gave her an added reason to compete. For Sam was born with no right hand and had spent a lifetime coming to terms with the disability with dedicated support from the Cornwall-based charity REACH. Michelle was determined to show her gratitude by sponsoring the charity during her marathon. She hopes to raise well over £1500 during her record breaking attempt. |
|
Her gruelling training schedule includes early morning stilt
walks around nearby Stewartby Lake. With a grin she admits, “It
leaves me with a few bruises and blisters but they soon heal.”
Next month her training reaches a climax with a 13-mile run at
Silverstone on 9th March and a Sports Relief Mile
event in Manchester the following weekend. |
|
|
Her Beaver Scouts at the 101st Kempston Scout Group think the world of her. The three-foot high youngsters take great delight in marching through her legs when she wears her stilts. They’ll be encouraging her all the way on marathon day, Sunday 13th April.
A fashion graduate, Michelle has designed all her own costumes including her favourite star and rainbow outfits. She wants to teach design and technology to secondary level students.
But before then her sights are set on more marathons. She has already been invited as a special guest to compete in the Luxembourg ING Marathon on 3rd May. The family thinks she’s mad but they are also secretly admire her dogged determination to succeed.
To help Michelle, also known as Rainbow Dave, raise money for Reach and support her Marathon & Record Attempt, you can sponsor her by visiting:
www.justgiving.com/rainbowdave
Good Luck Michelle! |
|
