Pull on red pants like Nick and run for Luca
A gym owner from Bath is trying to get as many people as possible to run in red pants for a fundraiser. Mark Lamputt, owner of Space Premier Fitness, is gathering the community together in support of Luca Railton, who needs to raise £130,000 for a life-changing operation in America.
Mark bought the red“budgie smugglers”worn by TV presenter Nick Knowles in the I’m A Celebrity jungle - at an auction for £1,000.
Funds raised at the sale are to support 15-year-old Luca, who was born with bones missing in his legs and has had a 13-year-long battle to being able to walk.
Luca’s family were told that he would have to have his legs amputated when he was two years old, but after multiple surgeries he can now walk. He needs specialist surgery only available in America to be able to continue walking.
Mark is hoping to use the pants as inspiration to start a series of runs that will raise awareness of Luca’s cause, and his Justgiving page.
Mark is Luca’s neighbour and has been training both Luca and his mum, Teresa, at his gym.
He said: “I know Teresa and Luca personally and I know what they’ve gone through.
“What I was thinking is that raising a thousand pounds is fantastic but raising awareness will help more people to join the cause.
“I had a eureka moment where I thought I should use the pants to get as many people involved as possible.
“We’ve found a supplier and have ordered 100 pairs of red pants and a hundred red T-shirts.
“We want to start off by just doing a 5k run, and we’re opening it to everyone.
“If we can get Nick involved as well, that would be incredible - I have a bit of a pipe dream to hopefully make this bigger and start doing some events nationwide.”
Luca’s major operation is scheduled to take place in Florida this July.
The crowdfunding page has raised over £6,000 with another near £6,000 raised from items sold at the auction.
Teresa said she had been “overwhelmed” by the support that her son has received.
She said: “It’s been tough and it’s not been a very easy journey.
“Luca has defied all the odds and we’re hoping that the end is in sight.
“We have six months to raise this money and we know we can do it.”
The first red pants event is taking place at the Bath Skyline Park Run on Saturday, March 9.
If you would like to take part in this event, you can purchase a ticket, a T-shirt and red pants on their event page, www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/helplucawalk-fun-run-with-space-gymtickets-56634872428?err=29.