RAF sergeant to tackle Lincoln 10k with wheelie bin on his back

A familiar sight from driveways across Lincolnshire is set to become one of the more unusual entries in this weekend's City of Lincoln 10k. RAF Sergeant Jamie Perry-Green plans to take on the Lincoln race on Sunday while carrying a wheelie bin strapped to his back, in a charity effort supporting the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The challenge, which he has dubbed I've bin running, brings a distinctly local and everyday twist to one of the city's best-known mass participation events.

While thousands are expected to line up for the annual 10k, few will be dealing with the extra burden of a bin weighing about 2.5 stone, or 16kg. Sgt Perry-Green, who has served in the RAF for 22 years, has been raising money through charity challenges since 2017 and has collected more than £11,000 over that time. For this latest fundraiser, he said he wanted to choose something awkward that people would instantly recognise.

His answer was the household wheelie bin, an object most residents handle every week without a second thought, but one that becomes a very different prospect when carried over 10 kilometres. He said the bin slows him down significantly and becomes increasingly uncomfortable as the run goes on. Normally, he can complete a 10k in about 45 minutes, but for Sunday's event he said he would be pleased to finish in under one hour and 10 minutes.

To make sure the challenge goes to plan, the lid has been glued shut to prevent any mishaps on the route. Even so, Sgt Perry-Green has described it as a difficult load to manage, especially in windy conditions where it can catch the air like a sail. The City of Lincoln 10k, organised by Jane Tomlinson's Run for All, is due to begin at 10am on Riseholme Road.

The race has become a regular fixture in Lincoln's events calendar, drawing runners of all abilities into the city each year. Adding to the community feel, two of Sgt Perry-Green's friends are expected to run alongside him carrying collection buckets as he aims to raise £1,000 for the benevolent fund, which supports serving and former RAF personnel and their families. For Lincoln spectators, the stunt is likely to provide one of the standout moments of the day, mixing humour with a serious fundraising purpose.

It also offers a reminder of the close ties between Lincolnshire and the RAF, with the county's long-standing military connections continuing to shape local life. Among the runners heading through Lincoln this weekend, Sgt Perry-Green's effort may be the hardest to miss - and perhaps one of the hardest to complete.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.