‘MR. GORIllA’ CRAWlS THROUGH lONDON MARATHON FOR CHARITY
A British man dressed in a gorilla costume raised more than 20,000 pounds for an animal charity by crawling the london Marathon route.
Tom Harrison, who adopted the monicker ‘Mr. Gorilla’, completed the 26.2 mile route last Saturday after crawling on his hands and knees for six-and-a-half days to raise 26,000 pounds ($33,675) for The Gorilla Organization.
Beginning April 22, Harrison crawled along the streets of london in his gorilla suit for 10 to 12 hours a day until he reached the finish line.
“It’s kind of turned into a bit like going to work in that I get up in the morning don my gorilla outfit, go to the place I left off the day before and start crawling again, chatting to people along the way and doing some interviews,” Harrison, a 41-year-old police officer said. “I’d try to do my four miles a day and then go home sweaty and tired at the end of it so it’s been a bizarre week.”
Harrison’s journey ended at Buckingham Palace where conservationist Bill Oddie presented him with a medal as he joined his two sons Nicholas, 6, and Alex, 4, who were also dressed as gorillas.
His original plan was to raise 1,500 pounds ($2,000) for the group dedicated to protecting endangered gorillas in their native habitat, but news of his efforts spread and he raised more than 10 times his original goal. “The fact that it went global has been completely unexpected, but brilliant,” Harrison said.
Jillian Miller, executive director of the gorilla group, described Harrison’s effort as “incredible.” “He’s now officially our highest fundraiser ever,” she said.
With the unique fundraiser complete, Harrison said he was “tired and happy” — and thankful to have the opportunity to get out of the gorilla suit. “I’ll be glad to get the costume washed as it’s getting a little bit fruity,” he said. “I think I’ve started to smell a bit like a gorilla,” he joked.
(UPI)
JEWEllER OFFERS GOlD DARTH VADER MASKS FOR $1.4 MIllION
Star Wars fans with deep pockets might consider it a golden opportunity. A Tokyo jewellery store is offering life-size Darth Vader masks made of 24-karat gold at a hefty price of 154 million yen ($1.4 million) to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars movie. The creation measures 26.5 cm (10.4 inches) wide and 30 cm (11.8 inches) high.
The Ginza Tanaka store says the masks are not designed for wearing — at about 15 kilograms (33 pounds), they would be too heavy, and they have no opening for a head. While the masks are its most expensive Star Wars memorabilia, the jeweller has made pricier products. In 2013, a gold Disney-themed Christmas tree was priced at 500 million yen ($4.5 million).
Marketing manager Hirotsugu Tsuchiya said it took 10 goldsmiths three months to mold and assemble the prototype. “The most difficult aspect was that each section of the mask was created by a different gold craftsman and then assembled to make one Darth Vader mask,” Tsuchiya said.
Orders for the mask can be placed at its main store in the glitzy Ginza shopping area where the prototype is on display. Customers will have to wait three months after ordering.
For those looking for less expensive options, gold coins engraved with Yoda or luke Skywalker will also be available, starting at 132,300 yen ($1,200). They went on sale Thursday, May 4, celebrated by some fans as
Star Wars day because “May the fourth” evokes the film’s iconic line, “May the force be with you.”
(AP)
WOMAN SHOT AT POINT-BlANK RANGE SAVED BY HER PURSE
Police say a New York City woman shot at point-blank range during a robbery was saved from a bullet wound thanks to her purse. The New York Police Department says a 52-year-old man ran up to his intended victim on a Brooklyn street early Wednesday morning and demanded her car keys.
The Daily News reports that the 39-year-old woman fought back against the man. During the struggle, the man fired a round at point-blank range. Police say the bullet tore through the victim’s purse, wallet and clothes, but stopped short of actually hitting her body.
The man then pistol-whipped the woman, took her keys and drove off in her vehicle. Police later found him nearby in the vehicle and arrested him on attempted murder charges. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
(AP)
BIGFOOT ON THE lAM: STATUES VANISH FROM OHIO STORE
Police in Ohio are on the lookout for “Bigfoot” after a gift shop owner reported that statues of the hairy creature vanished from outside her store. Arlene Fitzer told WFMJ-TV in Youngstown that the three hand-painted, concrete statues disappeared from Farmer Dave’s Gift Shop between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
Fitzer suspects they were stolen but says they would have been difficult to lift and to hide. She’s reviewing surveillance video for clues. Two statues had been mounted on pedestals in front of her shop in Beaver Township, in rural northeast Ohio. One is 3.5 feet (1.07 metres) tall. Another is 2.25 feet (0.69 metres). The third is considered the “baby” Bigfoot. Fitzer says they range in value from $55 to $150.
(AP)