TOTAL FITNESS PRESTON MEMBERS BREAK GUINNESS WORLD RECORD WHILST RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY

A MEMBER of leading fitness and health club brand, Total Fitness, has broken a Guinness World Record alongside his brother-in-law, by tackling a marathon with a difference.

John Darwen (31), a member of Total Fitness Preston, and James Baker (36), both strapped themselves to a vehicle weighing 1.5 tonnes and were given a 24-hour time period to travel further than the previous record set at 22.1 miles. Breaking the record by reaching an impressive 32 miles each – almost 10 miles further than the previous record – it’s clear that the pair’s intense training regime paid off as they were able to go the distance.

All the evidence has now been submitted to the Guinness World Records and the pair are awaiting final confirmation of their exciting new record.

The pair used their endurance challenge to help raise money for two worthy causes – Cancer Research UK and Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) – both of which have played a significant part in their lives. They have raised just over £2,500 so far to support their chosen charities.

In the run up to the challenge, both John and James benefited from Total Fitness Preston’s extensive range of facilities to help train for the event, including use of their 200-metre running track, swimming pool, gym floor cardio and functional equipment, alongside the expertise of personal trainers. This helped them to prepare both physically and mentally in the lead up to the challenge.

John Darwen comments: “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and delighted to have beaten the previous record by more than 10 miles. It’s the journey of getting here which has been the most important part, and we have done our very best to raise as much money as we can for two incredible charities.”

James Baker comments: “I’m so happy to be able to share this accomplishment with my brother-in-law, my best friend, and for us to hold the record together. It’s been a journey getting to this point, but I’m so pleased that all our hard work and intense training has paid off.”

Garran St Vall, General Manager at Total Fitness Preston, comments: “We’ve been supporting John and James every step of the way as we’re always delighted to see club members tackle such big fitness challenges to help raise money for charity. The team regularly visited the club and used our diverse range of facilities to help in their training regime, and everyone here at the club is thrilled that they’ve beaten the record.”