“Mara-thong” Man runs from Congo loggers

Sporting only a hemp g-string and painted as a tropical tree, Alexander Putnam from Upper Hornhill, “ran from the Congo loggers” when he braved the wet weather to compete in the London Marathon on 18th April.

Described as ‘one to watch’ in the London Evening Standard, the near naked Alex did not disappoint the crowds as he ran through London’s streets .

Alex’s concern for the fate of the rainforests inspired him to opt out of traditional running gear and into a “mara-thong” to raise awareness and funds for the Rainforest Foundation UK [1].

The Rainforest Foundation has recently warned that a threatened massive expansion of commercial timber cutting in the rainforests of the Congo could lead to the first major environmental and human catastrophe of the 21st century [2].

“I’ll be dressed as tropical foliage escaping the chainsaws and logging trucks of the timber industry,” says Alex. “This is a cause that I am passionate about. I want to spread the message and stop the destruction before it’s too late.”

Alex, recently underwent minor surgery and intravenous anti-biotics to cure a critical infection in his right foot that could have ended his running career, to compete in his first London Marathon this year. He raised more than £1,000 for the Rainforest Foundation UK.