In a remarkable fusion of science, stamina, and charity, Graham Sturge and a team of nine fellow runners from Bromham, near Bedford, have set a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run by a ten-person costume — dressed as a test tube rack.
Completing the 2025 London Marathon in 5 hours, 41 minutes, and 47 seconds, the group not only etched their names into the record books but also raised an incredible £108,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of Sturge’s father, John, who passed away from the disease in 2017.
Describing the unique challenge, Sturge likened it to:
“Trying to manoeuvre an articulated lorry down a country lane.”
The ten-person costume made coordination and navigation especially difficult on the packed marathon course — turning every mile into a team endurance test.
Though this marked Sturge’s 28th marathon, he admitted it brought “a whole new level of physical torment”. But the motivation behind the run — raising funds and awareness for a cause close to his heart — made every step worth it.
“To honour my dad and raise so much for Pancreatic Cancer UK is absolutely amazing,” he said after the finish.
The effort has been widely praised for its creativity and heart, bringing attention to pancreatic cancer — one of the deadliest and least understood forms of the disease.
From test tubes to triumph, Graham Sturge and his team proved that even the most unusual marathon attempts can carry the most powerful messages — of hope, remembrance, and community action.
