London Marathon: Group to run in 10-person bus costume

Jackie Scully, 42, (front left), is aiming to break a Guinness World Record during the race

A woman who had breast cancer will take on the London Marathon in a 10-person bus costume in a bid to break a Guinness World Record.

Jackie Scully, of Greenwich, south London, will mark a "huge milestone" at this year's marathon when she marks 10 years since she finished chemotherapy.

In 2017 Mrs Scully ran the marathon in her wedding dress after marrying her husband, Duncan, a few hours before.

This year, the 42-year-old will be joined by nine friends.

The 10-strong team will be individually dressed as "everyday heroes", such as a doctor, a paramedic and a soldier, while Mrs Scully will wear a Transport for London (TfL) bus driver outfit.

'It's just magic'

She is aiming to raise £100,000 across the year for Breast Cancer Now, a charity which supported her throughout her treatment, as well as NHS Charities Together and the Willow Foundation, the latter of which provides experiences for adults with serious illnesses.

"The London Marathon is iconic and it holds a really special place in my heart," Mrs Scully said.

"I say if you ever want to see London at its best, stand on the streets on London Marathon day - it's just magic."

Mrs Scully is celebrating 10 years since she finished chemotherapy treatment for cancer and was given the all-clear

The group's red bus costume, which is made out of hula hoops, plastic plumbing pipes and yoga mats, has been designed and constructed by Mrs Scully's friend Frankie Seaman, an ex-Dancing On Ice professional skater and the wife of former English footballer David Seaman.

Mrs Scully said she was feeling "a little bit terrified" ahead of this year's marathon due to the logistical complexities of running with nine others in costume.

'Logistically complex'

"I think it's one thing to train yourself for a marathon but it's another thing to turn an individual sport into a team game and have nine others training alongside me," she said.

"We're trying to work out what formation to take, what beat to run or walk at, it's quite logistically complex and you have to be pretty co-ordinated.

"I get goosepimples thinking about what we're trying to achieve and how it's going to feel on the day."

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The team will be dressing up as doctors, a dentist, a Brownie Guide, a soldier, a farmer, a lifeguard, a paramedic and a zookeeper, with Mrs Scully saying the costumes have been donated from the relevant charities or organisations.

While tackling the run, the group are aiming to break a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon time in a 10-person costume, which currently stands at six hours and 55 minutes.

Mrs Scully said they've turned a solo sport into a team sport

"I hope we can do it and I think crossing the finish line will be among the most amazing moments of my entire life," she said.

"On 21 April, I would have been in the throes of chemotherapy 10 years ago and to think how far I've come makes me feel super proud.

"Getting to 10 years is such a huge milestone."

As well as running the London Marathon, Mrs Scully will also be undertaking other challenges throughout the year to raise money for charity, including running the London 10k in July and trekking 100 kilometres across the Sahara Desert in November.

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