A black-belt karate leader has helped smash a world record and raise over £20,000 for charity.
Waltham Abbey karate instructor and UKIP councillor Rod Butler led 200 students in a martial arts "marathon", with participants completing a total of 11,700 choreographed movements over three hours at a Harlow leisure centre on Sunday (May 10).
The record attempt, organised by Shotokan Karate England, beat the previous holders by over 3,000 more movements and raised £22,000 for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in memory of Liz Lafbury, a club member who died last year after suffering from the disease.
Mr Butler said he was proud of the many young people who took part, and added: “There was a lot of emotion involved, it was very exciting.
“We were really chuffed to raise so much money.”
Mrs Lafbury’s husband and fellow group leader Chris Lafbury said: “I was so overwhelmed by the number of people that turned up in support of the event.
“Their dedication and hard work was truly touching.”
Participants after their successful world record attempt
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