Hilly Helmet organiser is a ‘Make a Difference’ award winner!

ORGANISER of Westbury’s Hilly Helmet Challenge race for charity, Robin-Mark Schols, has been honoured with a BBC Radio Make a Difference award for his immense fundraising efforts over the past six years. 

Robin-Mark was nominated for the award in the fundraising category by Brain Tumour Support after raising over £20,000 for the charity since 2016. Robin-Mark, from Dilton Marsh, was inspired to create the race following his own experience of having brain surgery and as a result, having to wear a protective helmet afterwards. Each year, runners in his Hilly Helmet Challenge design and wear their own headgear for the race. 

Last month, Robin-Mark was invited to collect his award at a ceremony at Devizes Corn Exchange, but the keen runner was away that weekend, competing in the Berlin Marathon. 

Speaking about the award he said, “I was honoured to even be nominated for the award, let alone win it. I’m quite an unassuming guy so I always think there must be people doing far more in terms of fundraising than myself, but I’m so grateful regardless. I’d like to give my regards to the other nominees as they all deserve a shout out and they really all do make a difference.  

“The support I’ve had for the run from the local community over the past six years has just been incredible. I’m happy it has proved to be so popular as it gives people the chance to come together for something positive and educate them about Brain Tumour Support at the same time – it’s cemented itself in people’s race diaries as well, which is a lovely touch. 

“I’ve managed to twist enough people’s arms so that every penny raised goes directly to the charity so I can look people in the eye and say that this is a true fundraising event, with the charity receiving the full amount. 

“It sounds corny by the whole idea was based on my own experience of having to run wearing a helmet and I thought people would better understand the kind of things I had to go through if they did it themselves. The reaction over the years has been great and long may it continue!” 

Robin-Mark had to wear a helmet for almost a year to protect his head after having part of his skull removed, following an operation to address a brain infection. He had previously told White Horse News that he used to get lots of funny looks from strangers when he was wearing the helmet, so he felt he needed to raise awareness of brain injuries as well as reducing any stigma associated with it. 

Robin-Mark finished the recent Berlin Marathon in a time of 3hours 17minutes, breaking the club record that had stood for 20 years in the Vet60 category. He has also run the Bristol Half Marathon under 85  minutes wearing a helmet. 

At the awards ceremony, Nick Hewer, advisor to Alan Sugar in the hit BBC show The Apprentice, presented his award to friends of Robin-Mark, who accepted it on his behalf. Nick Hewer praised the Hilly Helmet and suggested that it could go national. 

Robin-Mark added, “I’m experiencing a whole host of different emotions now – I’m honoured, flattered, humbled. I never expected or sought any of these accolades, I just wanted to try and raise as much as I possibly could to help Brain Tumour Support, while offering local people a fun event at a good value price.” 

The Hilly Helmet challenge received an industry-recognised gold award by Racecheck in 2019 and Robin-Mark received a certificate by the founder of Brain Tumour Support, Tina Mitchell-Skinner, for raising over £20,000 for the charity.  

Robin-Mark now has plans to complete the ‘big six’ races following his completion of the London and Berlin marathons, and will next travel to Tokyo, Boston, Chicago and New York to race. 

The BBC Radio Make a Difference awards were introduced at the start of the first lockdown to “recognise remarkable people, marking their achievements and contributions”.