Edinburgh parents complete nine hour burpees marathon to raise money for NHS

An Edinburgh dad who runs a fitness bootcamp endured a burpees marathon over the weekend with his wife to raise money for NHS staff and volunteers.
David and Carly completed 2620 burpees eachDavid and Carly completed 2620 burpees each
David and Carly completed 2620 burpees each

David and Carly Waine from Farmilehead began the challenge at 5am on Saturday morning, completing 2620 burpees over the course of nine hours as they livestreamed it on their Edinburgh Bootcamp Facebook page and on Youtube.

“My wife and I have two kids, Benji and Harrison who are three and five, so we can’t really leave during lockdown to run a big marathon, we thought a marathon is 26.2 miles, but 26.2 burpees wasn’t enough so we added a zero and made a challenge to do 2620 burpees each,” David said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Originally, the couple had a £1000 target however donations soon exceeded the amount.

The challenge took them 9 hours and has raised over £3000The challenge took them 9 hours and has raised over £3000
The challenge took them 9 hours and has raised over £3000

Currently, the total stands at over £3000 and an anonymous donor got in touch with David to say anything the couple raised, they would double.

David and Carly did sets of 100 burpees in an hour each so they could each take a turn looking after the kids, with David doing burpee press ups and Carly doing burpee squats.

“We’ve been amazed by everyone’s generosity, lots of people have helped to share it and brought it together, but I am feeling it today!” David added.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The decision to raise money for NHS Charities Together was an easy one for the 36-year-old, who completes a charity workout event every year on his late mother’s birthday.

They live streamed the challenge on Facebook and YoutubeThey live streamed the challenge on Facebook and Youtube
They live streamed the challenge on Facebook and Youtube

He said “My mum passed away five years ago and every year on her birthday I do a charity workout. My little boy is profoundly deaf so previously it has been Deaf Action in Edinburgh and for the Sick Kids, I always raise money for local things that mean something to me but this time with everything going on it seemed right to raise money for the NHS.

“There are a few of my bootcampers who work in the NHS on the frontline so hearing their stories of everything going on, we just wanted to help.”

Two other bootcamp members, Craig Potter and Keith Gifford also contacted David to tell him they would take part in the challenge also.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Alongside his fundraising efforts, since lockdown began David has been doing free 10 minute workouts for kids and families in a bid to keep them active and happy.

There are now over 35 available which can be found by searching Edinburgh Bootcamp on YouTube.

Those wishing to donate to the fundraiser can do so on the Just Giving page.