A travel trade team has raised more than £16,000 for Reuben’s Retreat after taking part in a gruelling two-day 100km ultramarathon.
The ‘Reuben’s Racers’ team joined the Race to the Stones challenge last weekend, from Lewknor in Oxfordshire to the 5,000-year-old Avebury Standing Stones in Wiltshire.
They were Lucia Rowe, A-Rosa’s UK and Ireland managing director; Tricia Birmingham, Fred Holidays’ product director; Lisa McAuley, director at Hays Travel; Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, sales and marketing director at Barrhead Travel and her husband Lee; former travel industry professional Jane Atkins and her husband Neil; and travel journalist Jeannine Williamson.
They were joined by Louie Davis, senior strategy manager at easyJet holidays, and two from Panache Cruises: Mollie-Jo Green, partnerships executive, and George Rowlands, senior copywriter.
A-Rosa River Cruises and Fred Holidays sponsored two free places on the challenge in a competition organised by the charity.
There was also support from professional lifestyle and ultra-running coach Rory Coleman.
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Reuben’s Retreat is a Derbyshire-based charity that supports families who have suffered the loss of a child or have a child living with medical complexities.
It was founded by Nicola Graham, supported by her husband Mike Graham, following the death of their youngest son Reuben, at the age of 23 months, from a rare and aggressive brain tumour. Both Nicola and Mike worked in the travel industry for many years.
Nicola Graham said: “The team visited; they got to know first-hand what we do, why and how…and they took the baton and literally raced it to the stones.
“They are an amazing bunch of dedicated hearts and souls and surpassed every target. Their tenacity to make a difference for our families was infectious and motivational. I am absolutely thrilled that this happened, it was amazing to watch it unfold across our group communications.”
Rowe added: “The race was a huge effort, some of them had not even run a half-marathon before.
“Some of them have high-powered jobs and are very busy but they had to invest a lot of time in the training – it was a lot of commitment.
“It was an emotional journey. We all visited Reuben’s Retreat before the event; it was a rewarding and humbling experience to see what we were doing all this for.”
It was the third year in a row that Rowe has completed the event, after she took up running to help her recover from leukaemia.
“It was about giving something back, a thank you for being alive, so I started to do these charity events and involve more and more people in travel, culminating in this fabulous team and bringing younger people in to take part too,” she said.
“This industry is always so special – bringing people together in a huge effort and personal sacrifice but a very rewarding experience.”
She said there is still time to donate to the team fundraising effort and take the total much higher than £16,000; to donate click here.
• Coach Rory Coleman: “It takes courage and determination to take on a 100km ultramarathon especially when you’re not a seasoned marathon runner. However, the Reuben’s group was as determined to succeed as they have been in the business world and it shows what can be achieved with good honest hard work.”
• Nicki Tempest-Mitchell: “I’m so proud to have completed the challenge of 100km across two days. What got me through this was knowing the money raised for Reuben’s Retreat will make a difference to the many families. It was the toughest physical challenge I have ever done, and will ever do but we did have lots of fun along the way.”
• Lisa McAuley: “I wanted to quit at 70km, 82km and pretty much every kilometre thereafter. But the pain, challenges and tears shed over the course of two days and at the finish line is nothing compared to the pain felt by the families who benefit from Reuben’s Retreat and all the teams vital support they give. Dwelling on that thought at my low points was the motivation needed to get me across the line – and there’s still time to donate!”
• Louie Davis: “A brutal but brilliant weekend. Fantastic to finish this challenge alongside some inspirational industry colleagues. Our team supported each other so well, looking out for one another and encouraging each other to the end. Even better that we’ve raised over £16k for Reuben’s Retreat!”
• Tricia Birmingham: “The preparation for two-day event shouldn’t be overlooked. To take on this challenge took dedication, time, motivation, and willpower just to make it to the start line! The ups for me were the camaraderie of team, inspiring stories en route, the fabulous scenery, the pitstops, the travel banter, the finish line… and, of course, knowing we were helping to make a difference to Reuben’s Retreat. The downs: the blisters, lost toenails, body aches, navigating a field of cows and swallowing a fly. I wouldn’t change my experience as I know the memories we made as Reuben’s Racers will last a lifetime and that resonates, knowing Reuben’s Retreat helps so many to overcome life’s challenges and create lasting memories.”
• Lucia Rowe: “I’m delighted to have brought these wonderful travel professionals together to what has been a truly lifechanging journey. They have all risen to the challenge surpassing all of ours and their own expectations. They have worked so hard to achieve this together, as a team, and help all those families in need who are being looked after by the Reuben’s Retreat. Everyone out there should feel inspired and motivated to join forces – the next challenge is not too far!”
• Olivia Edwards, content marketing manager at Panache Cruises, had to withdraw due to injury but Mollie-Jo Green competed on behalf of Panache Cruises in the 50km Day 2 Race to the Stones on Sunday.
Edwards said: “When the opportunity to take part in the Race to the Stones was put out to the team at Panache Cruises, the first person to sign up was Mollie-Jo.
“At only 19 years old, Mollie-Jo was the youngest female competing and finished Day 2 in just 9.5 hours. She had never run a marathon before or trekked any further than 10km, so this achievement was an absolutely incredible and everyone at Panache Cruises is so proud of her.
“Despite hobbling around the office on Monday morning, she was ready to sign up to the 100km race in 2025, non-stop! Nothing is daunting to her and she is ready to smash any challenge put her way.”
Main picture, from left: Louis, Lee, Nicki, Lucia, Lisa, Jane, Neil and Tricia.
