A teacher has completed the London Marathon – as training for a 70-mile ultramarathon fundraiser for Salford’s St Ann’s hospice.
Belinda Neild used the event – dressed as a bee – to prepare for an even bigger challenge to take her total fundraising to £35,000.
The 48-year-old will be running the 70-mile length of Hadrian’s Wall aiming to raise at least £1,750 for St Ann’s Hospice to reach her target.
Belinda, an art teacher at Fred Longworth High School, Tyldesley, is raising money for the hospice in memory of her mum, father-in-law, and other family members affected by cancer.
She said: “I started running because my mum passed away who was cared for at St Ann’s Hospice, and I eventually entered a 10km race and then I had the idea of wearing a costume to raise more money.
“I wanted to do things and challenge myself each year to raise money and fundraise to challenge myself of course, but to keep myself occupied.” 
During the London Marathon, Belinda was seen travelling around the course dressed as a bee – ‘the Belinda Bee’.
Belinda continued: “I have dressed up as a bee for the challenge. The incentive was the costume will hopefully get more people to donate and it went bonkers with reactions .
“But I also ran as Forest Gump, with ‘Belinda Gump’ on the back, and also ran as Rubik’s cube with people around Salford in the past.”
Her costumes have also led her to Guinness World Records, as she was able to become the fastest marathon time dressed as stationery.
“I was also a pencil but then I decided to do another one for the hospice dressed as a bee. I have just kept doing running challenges and have so far raised just over £33,000 in total – but want to get to £35,000.”
And with the challenges and money raised so far, Belinda is putting her focus onto a challenge called The Wall – where she we will be running the length of Hadrian’s Wall for charity.
“I will be running 70 miles from Carlisle to Newcastle, I have gone from three marathons to an ultra-marathon. The ultramarathon is the main goal and is on my birthday so I will have to celebrate a week later.”
Running has changed Belinda’s life.
She added: “People don’t get it, but I love it. It is so addictive.
“Training for the run the mileage is going up to 35 miles next week. I did 60 miles of running the week before London. It is difficult to fit it all in but I haven’t stopped running since I have lost my Mum.
“I just want to keep myself fit and healthy.”
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