Men break world record with three-legged run for Sheffield hospital

Damian Thacker and Luke Symonds clocked up a time of 3:07:57 - knocking 18 minutes off the previous world record.

The pair completed the challenge to raise money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where Damian’s son, Jem, was treated for serious burns after he knocked a cup of tea over himself.

Damian, aged 42 and Luke, Symonds, who are both physiotherapists, have raised £1,300 so far.

The pair broke one of 32 world records in last weekend’s marathon.

They completed the 26-mile circuit with their wrists and ankles tied eight inches apart.

Luke, who works at the Northern General Hospital, said: “We completed the London Marathon last year in three hours and four minutes so we were only three minutes slower three-legged which we were pleased about.

“When Damian first suggested it I thought he was joking as it sounded ridiculous but no, he meant it, and I am really pleased we did it - to raise money and get ourselves in the Guinness Book of World Records at the same time is amazing.

“We did a 5k practice run in Hillsborough Park in 19 minutes so we knew the record was possible, but to cross the finish line knowing we had done it was as great feeling.”

Damian, a dad-of-three, who came up with the idea, ran 40 marathons in 34 weeks in 2014 raising £4,000 for the hospital.

He said he enjoys fundraising for the hospital to ‘give something back’.

His son received months of treatment at the hospital for burns covering his face, shoulder and abdomen.

The money he and Luke raised will be used to help pay for two new physiotherapy rooms on a brand new hospital wing under construction.