A team of five runners, most of which come from the meat and farming sector, completed the London Marathon last week, raising almost £31,000 for Farm Africa.
Beef farmer and British Meat Processors Association consultant, Stuart Roberts, was accompanied by friend and neighbour Jamie Burrows and NFU colleagues Adam Bedford, James Mills and Richard Potts to run the near-27 miles of the marathon, calling themselves the “Jogging Farmers”.
Roberts, who is also the former chairman AHDB Beef & Lamb, finished the course in five hours and 41 hours, and speaking to Meat Management, he described the marathon as “the most incredible event” he has participated in.
The driving force behind the five runners’ decision to run in the London Marathon was to raise money for Farm Africa, a charity in eastern Africa that focuses on helping farmers increase their harvests, protecting the environment and selling their produce in “thriving markets”. The charity also provides support, training in effective farming methods and links to markets, aiming at helping to build “more profitable farming businesses so that whole communities can lift themselves out of poverty”.
The team had originally set a target of raising £20,000, but they have well exceeded it, as it currently stands at £30,726.25, with 251 total donors.
Asked by Meat Management whether the challenge has discouraged him from participating in another London Marathon, Roberts responded quickly: “I can’t wait to do another one!”
Meat Management readers can help boost the Jogging Farmers’ total even further by donating here.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
