Meet Lee Small, Stevie Clifford-Tucker, Mick Palmer and Jim Lafferty. At this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon, they’ll be donning a fire engine costume in an attempt to break the world record for the “fastest time in a four-person costume”, which currently stands at 6hrs 23mins 3secs.

In the process, they’re hoping to raise significant for funds the Fire Fighters Charity, which helps to support injured and retired fire personnel.

MR went to meet them at the Harold Hill Fire Station in Essex to find out more about their world record attempt…

Whose idea was it to run the Virgin Money London Marathon dressed as a fire engine?

Stevie Clifford-Tucker: I’m to blame! I ran last year’s London Marathon dressed in full fireman gear and en route I saw the Wolverhampton Bobsled Team, who hold the current world record and were dressed like the famous Jamaican Bobsled Team. I thought to myself: “We could do something similar with a fire engine.” So here we are…

It’s an impressive costume. Who’s the genius mechanic that constructed it?

Lee Small: That would be me. The key was to create something lightweight that would still be tough enough to last the course of a marathon, so I made the frame out of plastic conduit. We had to get the design approved by the London Fire Brigade as we’re using their logos. We’ve added bits to it, such as a loud speaker, so people know we’re coming!

We hear there’s a simmering rivalry between you and the current world record holders. Tell us more…

Jim Lafferty: There’s been a lot of friendly banter on social media. I think they first heard about us after we took part in the Silverstone Half Marathon. We tweeted them, ‘We’ll see you at the start line and be waiting for you finish’, and they responded with, ‘Jamaican Bobsled: underdogs again.’ So it’s been a good laugh and gives us an extra bit of motivation on the day.

Tell us more about the charity you’re supporting.

Mick Palmer: We’re raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity. It helps to support injured and retired fire personnel, so it’s definitely a charity that’s close to our hearts. It’s the 150th year of the London Fire Brigade, so it seems doubly appropriate to be raising money for this great cause.

Follow the guys on Twitter: @ldn-fire-engine

Sponsor them: justgiving.com/london-fire-engine