News

Fred Thomas, AKA Skinners Brewery mascot Betty Stogs, is in full training for this year’s London marathon which is now only 7 weeks away.

Fresh off stage from his stint in Sticker’s panto The Frog Prince, by day Fred can be found working at MA Grigg Country Store near Sticker. However, by night Fred has been pounding the streets around Cornwall in all weathers training for this year’s London Marathon which he is running in aid of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Fred will be running the marathon alongside his ‘Cousin Jacks’ and friends Vivian Bray and Simon Knowles who will be running their marathon around the capital dressed in Cornish kilts.

Fred has supported CHSW since 2007, when the Precious Lives appeal was launched to build Little Harbour children’s hospice in St Austell. At around the same time Skinners Brewery had approached Fred to bring Betty Stogs to life.

“I agreed providing the money went to a charity within Cornwall” Fred said.

“From day one of the character I have always carried a charity bucket with me to collect donations, where possible, for CHSW - a cause close to my heart.  The charity and team are amazing and over the years I have got to know them very well. I always said that if I ran a Marathon it would be for CHSW.”

“This is one of the hardest and biggest challenges I have ever taken on, both for myself and for Betty, but with the support of friends and family I'm sure everything will turn out well. Betty is a fun-loving character that many of you will have seen or met at local events in Cornwall, and up and down the country, so you know she is certainly up for a challenge!”

 

I’m really looking forward to raising as much money as possible, so we can help give the children and their families the support they need.

As if training to run a marathon wasn’t a biggest enough challenge, Fred has also set himself the challenge of raising £1000 for every mile of the marathon, meaning he wants to raise £26,000 for CHSW.

Amanda Masters, Community Fundraiser for CHSW said “Fred has set himself a huge challenge which will test him both physically and mentally, but he is doing a fantastic job with his training and he has already raised over £13,000 with his fundraising too. We are so grateful for everything Fred AKA Betty is doing for CHSW and would like to thank every single person who has helped him along the way.”

Fred is holding a fundraising night with Johnny Cowling at Griggs’ restaurant on Wednesday 3^rd April. Johnny will be providing the entertainment on the evening, tickets £10 per person to include a pasty and are available to buy from Little Harbour children’s hospice and Griggs shop.

If you would like to make a donation to Fred’s marathon challenge you can donate online, in person at Little Harbour or over the phone by calling Little Harbour on 01726 871800.