A Bristol charity worker will run the London Marathon dressed as a chicken to raise smiles and vital funds for meningitis prevention
Claire and Tara are the chicken and egg
A Bristol-based charity worker will be tackling this year’s London Marathon in an eye-catching chicken costume, accompanied by her partner dressed as an egg, in a spirited bid to raise funds and awareness for meningitis prevention.
Claire Wright, senior insights manager at the Meningitis Research Foundation, is using the iconic 26.2-mile event to celebrate her fifteen-year anniversary with the charity. The playful ‘chicken and egg’ theme, shared with her partner Tara, is a light-hearted take on the age-old philosophical debate, designed to bring smiles and encourage donations.
Claire has worked at the international health charity since 2010, using her background in data and policy to drive meaningful change in the fight against meningitis. She has spoken of the many powerful conversations she has had with medical professionals, families affected by the disease, and colleagues who have become lifelong friends.
“This milestone represents countless conversations with amazing medical experts, families affected by meningitis and passionate colleagues who’ve become lifelong friends. And, of course, our incredible supporters whose fundraising efforts have made our work possible. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of it all – and I can’t think of a better way to mark it than by running for the cause,” Claire said.
One of her key achievements has been helping to develop the Meningitis Progress Tracker, a tool that enables global advocates to use data to promote policy change and improve care.
“Behind every statistic is someone’s child, parent, sibling or friend,” Claire said. “This disease can change lives in a matter of hours, and the emotional and physical impact can last a lifetime. Running the marathon is my way of honouring the people behind the numbers.”
Tara, an experienced ultramarathon runner, is joining Claire in the challenge using one of the charity’s allocated marathon places. Their dual-costume approach has already begun turning heads online and among colleagues. Claire confirmed that whichever of them finishes first will be declared the answer to the chicken-or-egg conundrum.
“We wanted to make people smile on race day, and the chicken and egg theme felt like the perfect fit,” Claire added. “It also reflects the cycle of our work – where research leads to prevention and support, and that progress drives more research.”
The pair hope to raise at least £2,000, with their online fundraising page gaining momentum ahead of the event. Support has been pouring in from across the UK and beyond.
Claire said: “If you’re thinking about getting involved in the fight against meningitis – whether by donating, fundraising, or sharing your story – please do. Every bit of support makes a difference.”
For more on Claire’s journey, visit the full blog post on the Meningitis Research Foundation’s website.