Brother's Marathon Tribute in Felix Project Van Costume Aims for World Record
Dan Byam Shaw is preparing for an extraordinary challenge at the London Marathon, where he will run dressed as a bright green Felix Project food delivery van. This unique costume serves as a heartfelt tribute to his late brother, Felix, whose name and legacy live on through the charity founded in his memory. The Felix Project, established in 2016 after 14-year-old Felix died from a rare strain of meningitis, rescues surplus food and redistributes it to those in need across London and beyond.
Keeping Felix's Memory Alive Through Running
Mr Byam Shaw explained that running with his brother's name is a powerful way to keep Felix close while raising awareness for the charity's vital work. "In the part of London which we work, the big green vans are quite distinctive," he said. "They're a big part of what we do, moving food around, getting it to where it's needed most, preventing waste, and I've always been a big fan of driving the vans. So I thought, 'why not run as a van?'"
Initially, hearing the vans referred to simply as "Felix" felt strange, as the name carried a deeply personal meaning. However, over time, Mr Byam Shaw has come to see this as a positive connection, helping him feel that "in some ways, Felix is still here." The race, scheduled for the last weekend of April, marks his first marathon, though he has completed several other races previously.
Guinness World Record Attempt and Training Regimen
Mr Byam Shaw is not only running for charity but also aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the "fastest marathon dressed as a road vehicle," which currently stands at 4 hours, 21 minutes, and 41 seconds. To prepare for the physical demands of running in a homemade van costume, he has been training with weighted vests to simulate the additional load. "I'm optimistic that I might actually be able to break this record," he stated confidently.
In past races, wearing the charity's logo on a T-shirt has drawn supportive shouts of "Felix" from spectators, and he hopes for similar encouragement during the marathon. This event holds special significance as it combines personal remembrance with a public display of solidarity for the cause.
Fundraising Urgency and Charity Expansion
The marathon effort aims to raise £20,000 for the Felix Project, with heightened urgency following its recent merger with FareShareUK. This partnership has transformed the charity from a London-based organisation into a national entity operating across all four UK nations. "It has taken us from being a London charity to a UK-wide charity operating in all four nations all across the UK," Mr Byam Shaw explained. "So, as you can imagine, that comes with significantly added costs compared to running the charity just in London."
Post-merger, every £1 donated helps deliver 2.7 meals, amplifying the impact of contributions. The charity's growth reflects its success in addressing both food waste and poverty, with last year's efforts rescuing over 18,000 tonnes of surplus produce from 225 suppliers and redistributing the equivalent of 44 million meals to more than 1,200 community organisations and primary schools in London alone.
Charity Impact and Leadership Support
Since its inception a decade ago, the Felix Project has expanded to four depots in Enfield, Poplar, Deptford, and Acton, supporting an estimated 439,387 people weekly according to its 2025 impact report. Backed by The Independent's Help the Hungry campaign in 2020, which raised £12 million and quadrupled food redistribution, the charity continues to grow under leaders like CEO Charlotte Hill and deputy CEO Kris Gibbon-Walsh, who are also participating in the marathon.
Charlotte Hill commented on the significance of Mr Byam Shaw's challenge: "Felix's green vans have become a symbol of hope across London. Dan's challenge captures the spirit of what we do perfectly — turning something practical into something powerful that helps hundreds of thousands of people every day." This marathon tribute not only honors a beloved brother but also fuels a mission that transforms surplus food into sustenance for communities in need.
