Amazing Dad sets a world record

Ian Gear, a Dad and fundraiser from Balham, has completed the London Marathon for us, also setting a new world record for the fastest running star.

Ian beat the Guinness World record as the fastest star with a time of 4.46, Ian’s wife Alex who was also taking part in the challenge for Sparks finished in 4hr33min.

Ian and Alex who are parents to one-year-old twins Will and Ellie, were inspired to raise funds for Sparks after their first born daughter Holly, suffered oxygen deprivation and sadly died shortly after birth in December 2008.

Since that time the couple have raised over £65,000 for children’s medical research.

Ian said: “After losing Holly we wanted to find something positive we could focus our energies on and to do something which would hopefully mean other families wouldn’t have to go through the same thing as we did.

“We discovered that the charity Sparks was funding, amongst other projects, some pioneering research into cooling treatments for babies who suffer oxygen deprivation and we wanted to support this valuable work. Children’s medical research is desperately underfunded but there is some great work going on across the UK and Sparks funding is vital in helping this work continue.”

Between them Ian and Alex have rallied family, friends and friends-of-friends, to help them in their tireless efforts for Sparks.

The couple were joined by a team of friends and family as they tackled and completed the 26 mile course around the capital.

Find out more about their incredible story here