'I think I'll skip that record bid, Bomber'

Quick as a flash Patrick Smith, of Abbeydale Rotary Club, sent off an email to say that Herol 'Bomber' Graham is about to embark on a 24-hour Skipathon for charity.

He's going to skip non-stop throughout the day and into the night at Abbeydale Park Sports Club, pausing only for two-minute "fluid breaks" every hour.

Bomber says: "Last year I did 12 hours OK but it hurt three days later. My calves were killing me."

He suggested the idea himself when he met a couple of Rotarians out on a jog.

"It's going to be fun. It's the challenge I'm doing it for," says the former Commonwealth champion.

And for charity.

Patrick, the Rotarians' public relations man, hopes the event will bring in several thousand pounds for Rotary good causes – WaterAid, Rotary Shelter Boxes and Sight Savers International.

Patrick, after nipping into WH Smith and checking the Guinness Book of Records, has discovered the world record is 27 hours.

He'll be having words with Bomber about tacking on another three hours and if he gets the thumbs-up will be asking Guinness if they'll invigilate at the event, which starts at midday on Saturday November 17 and ends at midday the following day.

Bomber, who is well-known for believing in skipping as a way to keep fit, will be doing the Skipathon at Abbeydale's squash courts.

To relieve boredom, he's allowed to move about but the court is not all that big.

And he won't be short of company. The public will be invited in to watch this voluntary torture – and to dig deep into their pockets – and to join him.

Schoolchildren will be drafted in to skip alongside him and Herol's inviting fellow boxer Johnny Nelson to give it a go for an hour or two.

Last week an MP on the Commons Treasury select committee branded the question avoiding chairman of the Financial Services Agency "the Bomber Graham of finance," pointing out that the boxer was "famous for avoiding punches".

So what did Bomber think of that? "I could have slapped him. But at least I got a mention," he says.

sponsor Bomber email [email protected]