Mum aims to break quirky London marathon record to raise money for Air Ambulance Service

Marcus Donaldson
Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:38:16 +0000

A mum is looking to break a quirky record at the London Marathon as she raises money for the UK Air Ambulance Service.

Fiona Betts, who has run 27 marathons, will take on the race dressed as a huge yellow helicopter.

Speaking to GB News, the passionate Leicestershire runner took up the sport just under 10 years ago because “being out in the fresh air is really good for your mental health”.

Ms Betts then decided she wanted to snatch a world record but “couldn't find a costume that I could run fast enough in”.

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However, inspiration struck when she saw an air ambulance helicopter land, and she realised there was no record of a female wearing such a costume.

“So three years ago, I attempted and set the Guinness World Record for the fastest 3D aircraft,” she explained.

Now, Ms Betts has become a familiar sight, running across the country in her themed costume in support of 21 air ambulance charities.

Looking ahead to the London Marathon, the runner believed she could be close to setting a new record.

“The main thing is I don't want to be the person that they need to call the air ambulance out for, so safety first.

Ms Betts enthused: “The support's been fantastic, so I'm out there to enjoy it and just raise awareness.”

In preparation for the race, the Leicestershire mum has been training in her costume.

“I'm out and about on my training runs. I've had fantastic support from the local community. Lots of beeps, waves, and all that cheer as they go past.

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“I can come back from a run, check my charity page, and there'll be some more money in my pots that people have seen me out while I've been running, which is fantastic,” she said.

For her upcoming run, Ms Betts has raised close to £10,000 so far.

Despite the expected warm weather, the runner was confident she would be able to cope.

“I've run marathons in heat before. I ran in Hawaii last year, in 29C, not in a costume in my runner's outfit.

“It's one of those things you train for. I trained in it. So I do know that it gets warm. I've done marathons in the heat, so it's not my first rodeo,” she stressed.

Looking back on her incredible running feats so far, Ms Betts said: “I'm not quite sure how I've done it.

“I think after you've done the first couple, and then you forget how bad it is. Something else will come up, and you'll go ‘Oh, that looks interesting. I'll just enter that one as well’.

“And then before you know it, here we are.”