Entertainment

Kickboxer attempts marathon pulling a plane

Carl Thomas must take less than 24 hours to complete the charity feat on an airfield.
Carl Thomas must take less than 24 hours to complete the charity feat on an airfield. Carl Thomas must take less than 24 hours to complete the charity feat on an airfield.

A kickboxing champion is attempting to complete a marathon while pulling a 1.25-tonne aeroplane for charity.

Carl Thomas, 35, from Stockport, started dragging the Cessna up and down the airfield at Elvington, near York, on Wednesday evening, reaching a top speed of around 2mph.

He is raising £250,000 for Ollie’s Army, a charity that supports a family who have two children with Batten’s disease.

Before the attempt, Mr Thomas said: “You cannot really train for this, but I have been pulling my car up and down in an empty car park.

“I’ve got to do it in 24 hours so I cannot take a break, I’ll not be sleeping so I will be pretty rough.”

If you would like to donate the link is https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/carl-thomas?utm_term=gWEeZd83DPosted by Carl Thomas Project on Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Mr Thomas had hoped to use a lighter plane, but that became unavailable so he has had to use a 1,250kg Cessna, completing two-mile loops of the airfield without any assistance at the turns.

He said: “I’ll have a crazy level of exhaustion, but I’ve got a good support team and they will keep me going.”

Mr Thomas is undertaking 10 charity challenges and hopes to raise £1 million over 10 years.

Carl Thomas plane pull marathon attempt
Carl Thomas plane pull marathon attempt Carl Thomas ia making his attempt at Elvington Airfield near York (Danny Lawson/PA)

He has previously run 10 marathons in 10 days and cycled 1,500 miles in 10 days.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/carl-thomas?utm_term=gWEeZd83D&fbclid=IwAR1x9vJhV75Fn69Gi4Ud5uCOQHK9JeFs3Q6sxo8ZNl8tG8lIBV54aT4ufMQ