Supacat supports the Gumpathon

Wednesday 11th November 2009

Supacat has recently signed an agreement to sponsor the Gumpathon. Managing Director, Nick Ames said, “We are very proud of our new association with this outstanding event and  delighted to contribute towards the chosen charities that will benefit service men and women across the globe. We are looking forward to following the team’s progress and wish the team the very best of luck”.

What is the Gumpathon?

On 1 April 2010 four runners will set out from New York with the intention of reaching LA by 6 June 2010. In a unique challenge which stretches 3,630 miles, four brave guys will be running to raise a substantial amount of money for injured service men and women returning from current conflict.

Each runner will cover 16 miles in relay formation, completing over 60 miles a day and the equivalent of 34 marathons over the three month period.

Whilst en route the runners will visit as many military bases, military hospitals and rehabilitation centres as possible and, just to make things interesting, they will auction off particular parts of the route for individuals or groups to dictate (within the boundaries of state law) what they will wear, or not as the case maybe, while running.

Inspired by Forest Gump’s epic run across America, The Gumpathon is the brain-child of Colour Sergeant Damian Todd, Royal Marines, who decided to go ahead with the idea after a close friend was left severely disabled following a tour in Afganistan.

Whilst the media covers those who sadly lose their lives in the line of duty less has been said about those who are graphically wounded. The problems facing those who return with severe injury are great and the simple things that we take for granted such as walking, running, going out with your friends are changed forever.

All money raised from the Gumpathon will go towards helping these people through the work of two charities: Help for Heroes (H4H) and the US Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Both H4H and Semper Fi raise funds to support wounded and ill members of the Armed Forces, and their families, throughout their recovery period.

You can read more about the Gumpathon at www.thegumpathon.com