Yorkshire HEART UK Runner Lisa Wright Breaks World Record at Virgin London Marathon Attempt

April 17, 2014 - PRLog -- HEART UK runner Lisa Wright has broken the world record for running a marathon in a playing card costume when she finished the Virgin Money London Marathon in under four and a half hours.

Cleckheaton-based receptionist Lisa, who was running the marathon for the fourteenth time, dressed as the Queen of Hearts for the 26.2mile run – and is now pondering new world records to raise funds for HEART UK, The Cholesterol Charity.

“I ran as the Queen of Hearts last year because I thought it would be a very appropriate way to raise my profile and get more people to sponsor me,” said Lisa, 45. “I was too late to go for a Guinness World Record last year but I wanted to try again and was given a time of 4:30 to beat.

“The last three miles were particularly tough but I knew the record was within my grasp so I dug deep and the crowd carried me from start to finish shouting ‘Go Queenie’/’The Queen Of Hearts’ all the way round. My arm hurts more than my legs for all the waving to thank everyone!

“I feel like the cat with the cream to have broken the world record – I am really over the moon. Now I’m considering maybe running an Ultra Marathon dressed as The Queen Of Hearts or running London in my costume again next year and chasing my time. Whatever happens, next year I will of course run for my brilliant charity, HEART UK.”

Lisa first ran the London Marathon in 1999 and set the World Record at 4:23. She explained why she is running for HEART UK: “I chose to run for HEART UK because I have friends and family that suffer from high cholesterol. We only recently found out that my husband has it, so this has made me more determined to help HEART UK and get the word across to people.”

HEART UK Chief Executive Jules Payne said: “HEART UK has a great team running the Virgin Money London Marathon this year and we’re delighted that Lisa is raising funds on our behalf. Running a marathon is hard enough without the added challenge of wearing a fancy dress costume and we were delighted to be in London cheering her on and celebrating with her at the finishing line. We are indebted to the effort Lisa and the other HEART UK runners are putting in to help us support those who have lost loved ones and to raise awareness of the importance of heart health, one of the UK’s biggest killers.”

HEART UK is the UK's only cholesterol charity and dedicated to providing support for people with inherited high cholesterol. They also work with governing bodies and medical stakeholders to develop better methods of detection and treatment for cholesterol related conditions.

To sponsor Lisa, please visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LisaWright

ENDS