Yahoo News Grimsby Town mascot Mighty Mariner joins in charity run for cancer
You might think Grimsby Town’s mascot Mighty Mariner would be taking advantage of a pre-season Sunday of rest – but not today.
The larger-than-life character, who made a glorious return to action as the club’s most lively supporter two years ago, was hot-footing it around the streets of Louth earlier today (Sunday, June 30) as part of the Louth Run For Life 2024 event in aid of Cancer Research UK.
James Whaley, who takes on the role of Mighty, and has set up an online appeal page, said: “I’ve known the organiser Simon West for a while. He’s a Grimsby Town season ticket holder and he lost his brother to cancer.
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“I'm just trying to help him out by taking part in Run For Life. There’s a 1K fun run first and a 5K run later on; I’m doing both. It’s the first time I’ve taken part.
“I used to run a bit but I ended up with a lung condition last year and I’m just getting back into it. I think it will be a case of walking and running, it might be warm in the Mighty costume.”
Race organiser Simon West, born and bred in Louth and still living just outside the town, said: “I’ve been involved in this event for 18 years now. It started because I used to be in the Louth Round Table group and we did the marshalling – then I got roped in to be chairman and 18 years later, I'm here and it’s just grown and grown.
“I think there will be about 1,100 to 1,200 people here today, and we have about £30,000 pledged online, plus entry fees. Fundraising for Cancer Research UK to date this year is about £157,000.
“I did a bit of totting up and collectively we will have raised £750,000. We’re a flagship fundraising group for Cancer Research UK now.”
Simon said: “The event today will have about 65 to 70 people marshalling and they are all volunteers. There are about 300 kids doing the 1K, about 600 women doing the 5K and about 200 to 250 men doing the 5K.
“There are never as many men, they all either want to win or don’t want to enter. Four teams of ex-service personnel are also doing a log-carry around the 5K course.
“It’s a brilliant event with such a great community atmosphere. The weather conditions are just about right, not too hot.”
