Geraldton charity runner Brooke Jefferies to go for Guinness World Record in virtual London Marathon

A Geraldton woman is about to complete a marathon for charity that has been a year and a half in the making, taking part in a Guinness World Record in the process.

Brooke Jefferies, now living in the ACT, said she would aim to complete the London Marathon virtually on Sunday and Monday for the bushfires appeal.

“I am finally completing the virtual London Marathon this weekend for the Australian bushfires, a year and a half in the making,” Jefferies said.

“Due to the coronavirus last year, I couldn’t complete the event and I actually left the UK completely, but can finally do it this year, virtually.”

She said the event, to run from Sunday morning to Monday morning in Australia, could break a Guinness World Record for most people to run virtually over 24 hours.

With restrictions in place limiting exercise to four hours a day in the ACT, Jefferies should be able to run for four hours on Sunday and complete any remaining kilometres on Monday, which will fall within the same day in UK time.

Jefferies originally planned to run the marathon in London, where she was living and working with the Salvation Army, before it was postponed several times because of COVID-19.

She moved back to WA last year.

London Marathon organisers say the event should be the world’s biggest ever marathon.

People running in the virtual race will track their times through an official app and then upload results.

The app allows runners to “pause” their race and continue later.

The race in London will go ahead with modifications.

Organisers are asking runners in London to bring only one supporter, with family and friends able to watch coverage on TV. There will be no pacers on course.

Donors can visit https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/brooke-jefferies-australian-bushfire-relief.