A charity hero who has raised more than £5million over 30 years today climbed Ben Nevis wearing a vintage diving suit weighing over 100 pounds.
Veteran fundraiser Lloyd Scott, 58, is taking on his final charity challenge by stepping into his 130lbs deep-sea diving suit one final time to tackle the Three Peak Challenge, raising money for youth charity The Lord’s Taverners.
Lloyd appeared on This Morning after climbing Ben Nevis, and will attempt to complete Scafell Peak and Mount Snowden over an eight-day period, to complete a charity fund-raising career that began back in 1987 with the London Marathon.
However Lloyd revealed that years of wacky charity events have ‘taken a toll’ on him physically, and he’s had over 20-operations as a result of his grueling challenges.
Veteran fundraiser Lloyd Scott, 58, is taking on his final charity challenge by stepping into his 130lbs deep-sea diving suit one final time to tackle the Three Peak Challenge
Last month Lloyd met another charity hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedford, so the veteran could lend his support ahead of Lloyd’s final challenge
‘I think the end is knocking now,’ said Lloyd. ‘I’ve got two replacement hips, a knee replacement. I’ve had about 23 operations, it’s taken it’s toll.’
But he admitted that he could be temped to return to charity work, saying: ‘I would say if someone wants me to do something in future, if they put it on I may consider it. But in terms of doing my own events, I can’t do any better than this.’
The challenge will see Lloyd travel 23 miles in three stages, with a total ascent of 3,064 metres, all while wearing over a suit which weighs over 60lbs.
‘The helmet weighs about 40lbs on its own,’ said Lloyd. ‘And then there’s weights on the top and the boots are like 20-something lbs. The way the weight is distributed is difficult in terms of balance.’
The challenge will see Lloyd travel 23-miles in three stages, with a total ascent of 3064 metres, all while wearing over a suit which weighs over 60 pounds. Pictured, Lloyd climbing Ben Nevis today
Lloyd, pictured climbing Ben Nevis today, hit headlines after breaking the world record for taking the longest recorded time to complete a marathon
Lloyd hit headlines after breaking the world record for taking the longest recorded time to complete a marathon, when he finished the London Marathon wearing his famous deep-diving suit in 2002.
His marathon run spanned five days, eight hours, 29 minutes and 46 seconds.
This however wasn’t the first time Lloyd took on the London Marathon, with him tackling the race back in 1987 while fighting a life-threatening illness.
That year, Lloyd was diagnosed with leukaemia and his siblings, despite being a perfect bone marrow match for one another, weren’t a close enough pairing for him.
Eventually a donor was found, in an event Lloyd described as ‘like meeting a brother I never knew I had. I’m now godfather to his son and we still meet to play cricket!’
Lloyd appeared on This Morning after climbing Ben Nevis, and will attempt to complete Scafell Peak and Mount Snowden over an eight-day period
Lloyd revealed that years of wacky charity events have ‘taken a toll’ on him physically, and he’s had over 20-operations as a result of his grueling challenges.
Just three weeks before his transplant, Lloyd tackled the Marathon for the first time, doing it ‘with the aim of showing people that despite having a life-threatening illness, one could make the most of any situation.’
Nearly a year later, despite the transplant almost proving fatal, Lloyd was back on the start line for the London Marathon, and his fundraising career truly began.
‘The challenges started to become ever more incredible, with an Everest marathon, an underwater one in the depths of Loch Ness, and what he still describes as his toughest challenge ever, cycling a Penny Farthing across Australia.
Last month Lloyd met another charity hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedford, so the veteran could lend his support ahead of Lloyd’s final challenge.
The Taverners holds a special place in Lloyd’s heart, having been a member for 15 years, but also from his own personal experiences of life without sport. Pictured, Lloyd climbing Ben Nevis
All the money raised by Lloyd in his final challenge will go to the Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity.
The Taverners holds a special place in Lloyd’s heart, having been a member for 15 years, but also from his own personal experiences of life without sport.
Lloyd said: ‘When I had leukaemia, there was a period where I couldn’t play any sport. It’s only when you have something, and it’s taken away from you and that you realise how important it is.
‘So, the thought of children out there that may not experience the thrill, excitement, enjoyment of sport really resonates with me. I couldn’t think of anyone I wanted to do this for more.’