Cheeky fundraiser Jonathan Green is selling permanent advertising space on his buttock to the highest bidder – all to help disabled and terminally ill children.
Jonathan, aged 35 and from Fallings Park in Wolverhampton, is in training for this year’s London Marathon, which he will be running in aid of locally based charity Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children. Newlife supports thousands of families of disabled and terminally ill children throughout the UK through provision of specialist equipment like wheelchairs, beds and communication aids.
In 2013/14 alone, Newlife funded equipment grants totalling £2,088,105 for over 1,300 children, with many more supported through the charity’s emergency equipment loan services.
To help ensure he reaches his £2,500 fundraising target, Jonathan has taken up a friend’s fundraising challenge to have the name or logo of choice of the highest bidder tattooed on his buttock.
Jonathan, who works for Wolverhampton machine tool distributors Brammer, said: “Whoever puts in the highest bid can choose the tattoo, as long as it fits on one cheek. I’m six feet seven inches tall and I weigh just under 19 stone so it is a big bottom – therefore a tattoo across both cheeks would have to mean big money.”
Part of the Wolverhampton Running Network, he put his best foot forward in aid of Newlife for the first time at last year’s Great Birmingham Run, raising £191. Knowing how Newlife supports families in need, Jonathan, who only took up running a year ago, is determined to do his best to help disabled children.
Jonathan said: “I used to be a carer and manual handling trainer in Wall Heath, Dudley, working with adults with learning and physical disabilities so I have seen how people struggle for a bit of dignity and to live a decent life. Specialist disability equipment can often be key to them doing this, so the work that Newlife does is something I am very passionate about.
“This is something I can, quite literally, put my weight behind . . . .”
He added: “I am now running about 60 miles a week but haven’t gone the full marathon distance yet; I’m up to about 13 miles. I’ve got a couple of half-marathons built into my training plan to prepare for the ‘main event’ in London in April.”
The current highest ‘buttock bid’ is £200. Jonathan said: “I’m hoping someone will come along and trump this offer because, although this is a bit of fun, the reason for doing it is very serious; £2,500 can make a big difference to a child’s life.”
To sponsor Jonathan, go to: www.justgiving.com/teamrunjonboyrun. If you think you can top the £200 bid, Jonathan can be contacted at runjoyboyrun@gmail.com
Pictured: Jonathan Green
Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/newlifecharity
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newlifefoundation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NewlifeFoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NewlifeFoundation
