New Malden man does 500,000 skips a year for Toilet Twinning

Simon Bramwell, 42, achieved his goal on December 19 – with 12 days to go – at the indoor tennis courts at Reed’s School in Cobham.

His regime involved 1,500 skips a day, in short stints of about 11 minutes.

He said: “I counted my skips each day and then logged them in a spreadsheet – good mental discipline too. People will have to trust me on the numbers!”

In July, while his family drove back from a visit to his wife Dala’s native Hungary, he skipped in six different countries.

He said: “I attracted a few strange looks, but there’s nothing new there!”

The father-of-two was inspired to raise money for Toilet Twinning, which provides proper toilets, clean water and hygiene training around the world, after a visit to Madagascar last year where Dala worked in a mission hospital.

While there, he was particularly moved by watching a disabled man with withered legs having to drag himself through the dirt to get to a pit latrine.

He said: “We realised how fundamental it is to have somewhere safe to go to the toilet: it’s something we take completely for granted. I’d seen Toilet twinning certificates in people’s loos and I liked the idea because there’s something very concrete about funding a toilet. Taking on this challenge was a great opportunity to do something for a good cause and help keep fit into the bargain.”

The charity invites people to “twin” their toilet at home with a latrine overseas for a £60 donation.

Toilet Twinning CEO Lorraine Kingsley said: “We’ve had people “running for the loo” and doing squatting competitions in aid of toilets but skipping is a new one on us. Simon’s such a good sport and we’re amazed that he’s sustained his skipping all year. We can honestly say that the toilets he has helped fund will change those families’ lives for ever, so we’re hugely grateful to him.”

So far Mr Bramwell has raised almost £2,000.

To donate to his fundraising page, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonBramwellskipathon.