You are viewing 2 of your 2 free articles
Travel industry runners raise thousands for charity in London Marathon
Travel industry runners have reflected on their marathon efforts after tackling the 26.2-mile course in London on Sunday.
The 2026 TCS London Marathon was a record-breaker, with Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe becoming the first marathon runner to officially log a sub-two-hour finish at 01:59:30.
The event also saw record-breaking participation with about 59,000 runners taking part and hundreds of thousands of spectators showing their support, as tens of millions of pounds were raised for charity.
Among the runners were travel industry professionals, many of whom raised thousands for good causes, ranging from cancer research to children’s medical charities.
• Karen Sequeira, UKI & MEA marketing director at Norwegian Cruise Line, said: “I was delighted to run the London Marathon in support of the incredible charity Breast Cancer Now, raising over £3,100 along the way.
“It was truly one of the best days ever – running across Tower Bridge, passing so many iconic landmarks, and finishing on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.
“The crowds were phenomenal and their support really helped carry me over the finish line.”
• Dorset-based Not Just Travel homeworker Lee Collier made it round the course despite a calf injury and raised £3,660 for Action Medical Research, which has been helping children and funding medical breakthroughs for more than 70 years, including research about stillbirths.
He ran his seventh London marathon in memory of his daughter Phoebe-Lee, who was stillborn in December 2005.
• Agent Amy Wright, from Select Travel Holidays, raised more than £2,700 for the National Brain Appeal, which provides much-needed funds to support The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery and the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology – together known as Queen Square.
It is one of the world’s leading centres for the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with neurological and neuromuscular conditions. These include stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia.
The Bedford-based family agency posted pictures of her run on Facebook, commenting: “What an amazing day.”
• Matt Bowley, marketing director at Solmar Villas, posted on LinkedIn: “Without any doubt, the most humbling yet rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Months of training can’t prepare you enough for the absolute mental battle that is those final few miles, but I’ve never experienced an occasion or atmosphere like it to help get me through. Wall to wall noise from the very first corner all the way until the end and genuinely a moment of pure emotion and elation crossing the finish line.”
He thanked all his supporters who helped him to raise more than £2,300 for the Stan Bowley Trust, describing it a “charity very close to my heart”.
The Stan Bowley Trust was founded by Alan ‘Stan’ Bowley, his family and friends, and supports the development of the CyberKnife System which is a non-invasive alternative to open surgery for the treatment of cancer tumours.
• Gillian Wickers, head of UK & Ireland sales at British Airways, also posted on LinkedIn, to share her thanks after her first London Marathon.
“Inspired by Evie Reid who has been living with A-T (Ataxia Telangiectasia), I was delighted to raise over £8,000 for Action for A-T,” she wrote.
“Truly grateful to all my fabulous family and friends who came out to support me, as well as the tens of thousands of people lining the streets of London cheering on me and 59,000 other strangers.
“While I most definitely wasn’t one of the faster runners, I was proud to receive an email today saying I was in the top 400 fundraisers for the entire London Marathon 2026. So a sincere thank you again to every single person who supported and sponsored me.”
• Tabi Richards, manager of the Hays Travel branch in Chard, Somerset, completed the marathon, raising £2,300 for Children with Cancer UK.
“The London Marathon was an incredible experience – I felt truly lucky to take part,” she said.
“The sense of togetherness and community was unmatched. A real bucket-list moment and a day I’ll never forget,” she said.
• James Thornton, chief executive at Intrepid Travel, took part in his sixth marathon and fourth in London – raising more than £9,000 (almost AU$17,000) for Intrepid Foundation partner Amal Association in Marrakech, which helps vulnerable women through hospitality training and English classes.
“At a time when the world feels so divided, the day genuinely gave me hope and connection,” he posted on LinkedIn.
“People of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs and abilities came together – elite athletes, weekend joggers, first-timers, volunteers, spectators.
“For 4 hours and 19 minutes (my slowest marathon to date!), I was cheered on by 800,000 strangers and supported by volunteers I’d never met. It was a powerful reminder of just how much good exists in the world.
• Michelle Laverick, Silver Marketing Association director, was able to collect a London Classics medal, which is awarded to those who have run the London Marathon, cycled the RideLondon 100 and swum the two-mile event at Swim Serpentine.
“I’m a swimmer rather than a runner but thoroughly enjoyed the London marathon (despite the tears before, during and after) this year to be rewarded with not just my marathon medal but the completion of my London Classics,” she told Travel Weekly.
“I was truly proud to be British with the most incredible turnout and support on the streets of London and such a phenomenally organised event.”
• Neal Hussey, head of commercial & business development at Cruise2, ran for Young Lives vs Cancer, describing it as “a fantastic charity” supporting the 12 children and young people who each day are told: “You have cancer.”
“It was a fantastic occasion running around London and one that was truly humbling,” he said.
“Being surrounded by inspiring people doing good things for great causes made the day very emotional. A day I will never forget.”
• Pure Travel, an independent travel agency in Halifax, said: “Our amazing colleague Faye Bush ran for Rugby League Cares and raised an incredible £4,270.”
• Did you or one of your team take part in the marathon? If so, let us know and we’ll celebrate your achievements here. Please email samantha.mayling@travelweekly.co.uk. Thank you.
Below, from left: Neal Hussey, Cruise2; Michelle Laverick, Silver Marketing Association; and James Thornton, Intrepid Travel
More Content
More Content
Jacobs Media is a company registered in England and Wales, company number 08713328. 3rd Floor, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU
© 2025 Jacobs Media
