The Childhood Trust

Run, Ralph, Run

Ralph Wilson

Ralph Wilson

My Story

"Run, run, as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man".

Hello! On 26 April 2026 I'll be running the London Marathon. I'm aiming to run it in under three hours, and I'm hoping to do this while setting an official Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a gingerbread man (I have my costume and yes it does look ridiculous). I'm doing all this in support of The Childhood Trust, and am very grateful for all donations big or small. Thank you so much!

 

👶 Why The Childhood Trust?

The Childhood Trust is London’s child poverty charity, working to reduce the impact of poverty on children and young people by funding grassroots organisations and providing essential items and services where they’re needed most.

Almost one in three children in the UK lives in poverty. As a father to a young daughter, I’m very aware of the opportunities and experiences I can give her, and that many children won’t have. I wanted to support a local charity creating meaningful impact in practical ways.

The funds raised will support their Champions for Children grant-making campaign in June 2026, funding summer-holiday projects as well as year-round initiatives providing nutritious food, play and educational activities, mental-health support, and safe, stable spaces where children can thrive.

ᯓ🏃🏻‍♂️‍➡️ Why the London Marathon?

I've ran the London Marathon once before in 2013, and like many people confidently declared I'd never run that far again. But for the past two years I’ve lived less than twenty metres from the marathon route in Rotherhithe, and have been swept back up in the atmosphere. It's such an inspiring event to watch and be a part of, and so now that the painful memories have been replaced by pangs of FOMO, I'm coming back for one more go.

🍪 Why a world record attempt, and why a gingerbread man?

Those are very fair questions! Partly because any genuine sporting records are well beyond my reach. Partly so I have a new icebreaker intro at work events. And mostly in the hope that it'll encourage you to donate.

I've chosen this particular outfit because of it's connection to childhood, because it maximises silliness while hopefully not entirely sabbotaging my running, and because the current record should be just about within reach. That record is held by Ben Armstrong who took it in Perth in 2016 with a time of 3:14:15 - coincidentally 12 seconds faster than my 2013 London Marathon time. If I beat it, I'll owe him a packet of gingebread biscuits.

📖🪄 Will there be a happy ending?

In the fairytale, the gingerbread man successfully outruns a baker, a cow, a horse, a pig and several labourers, before being outsmarted and eaten by a fox. I’m hoping for a kinder ending.

Assuming the costume doesn't prove too cumbersome and I don't feel crumby (!) on the day, I should have a good chance. Sneaking in under three hours would be the icing on the biscuit, but will be very tough going. Either way I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got.

The Childhood Trust

Raising for:

The Childhood Trust
124%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,500
  • Raised so far
    £3,111
  • Number of donors
    96

My Story

"Run, run, as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man".

Hello! On 26 April 2026 I'll be running the London Marathon. I'm aiming to run it in under three hours, and I'm hoping to do this while setting an official Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a gingerbread man (I have my costume and yes it does look ridiculous). I'm doing all this in support of The Childhood Trust, and am very grateful for all donations big or small. Thank you so much!

 

👶 Why The Childhood Trust?

The Childhood Trust is London’s child poverty charity, working to reduce the impact of poverty on children and young people by funding grassroots organisations and providing essential items and services where they’re needed most.

Almost one in three children in the UK lives in poverty. As a father to a young daughter, I’m very aware of the opportunities and experiences I can give her, and that many children won’t have. I wanted to support a local charity creating meaningful impact in practical ways.

The funds raised will support their Champions for Children grant-making campaign in June 2026, funding summer-holiday projects as well as year-round initiatives providing nutritious food, play and educational activities, mental-health support, and safe, stable spaces where children can thrive.

ᯓ🏃🏻‍♂️‍➡️ Why the London Marathon?

I've ran the London Marathon once before in 2013, and like many people confidently declared I'd never run that far again. But for the past two years I’ve lived less than twenty metres from the marathon route in Rotherhithe, and have been swept back up in the atmosphere. It's such an inspiring event to watch and be a part of, and so now that the painful memories have been replaced by pangs of FOMO, I'm coming back for one more go.

🍪 Why a world record attempt, and why a gingerbread man?

Those are very fair questions! Partly because any genuine sporting records are well beyond my reach. Partly so I have a new icebreaker intro at work events. And mostly in the hope that it'll encourage you to donate.

I've chosen this particular outfit because of it's connection to childhood, because it maximises silliness while hopefully not entirely sabbotaging my running, and because the current record should be just about within reach. That record is held by Ben Armstrong who took it in Perth in 2016 with a time of 3:14:15 - coincidentally 12 seconds faster than my 2013 London Marathon time. If I beat it, I'll owe him a packet of gingebread biscuits.

📖🪄 Will there be a happy ending?

In the fairytale, the gingerbread man successfully outruns a baker, a cow, a horse, a pig and several labourers, before being outsmarted and eaten by a fox. I’m hoping for a kinder ending.

Assuming the costume doesn't prove too cumbersome and I don't feel crumby (!) on the day, I should have a good chance. Sneaking in under three hours would be the icing on the biscuit, but will be very tough going. Either way I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got.