Not Just Travel’s chief commercial officer Chris Harrison will fight in a boxing match to raise money for a breast cancer charity.
Harrison (pictured) took boxing lessons after receiving £500 from Not Just Travel’s learning and development programme, which gives the sum to each member of the corporate team every year.
While Harrison’s motivation was to improve his health, he was soon tempted to put himself forward for the Ultra White Collar Boxing event in Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, November 18.
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Harrison said: “People tell me I’m mad, but compared to what people with breast cancer have to go through, this boxing match is nothing – even if they have to peel me off the floor.”
Members of the Not Just Travel team will be cheering on Harrison at the black-tie event, with franchise co-founders Steve Witt and Paul Harrison among those attending.
“I have no idea who I’ll be fighting, but 50 people have signed up, including some ex-rugby league players,” said Harrison, who has never been in a boxing match before.
He signed up in a “moment of madness over a couple of glasses of wine”, he said, but hopes to support an “amazing” charity.
He added: “The Pink Ribbon Foundation is a tremendous cause, especially as one of our franchisees was diagnosed with breast cancer this year for a third time.
“Far too many people are affected by breast cancer every year, so I’m putting on my gloves to challenge myself and do what I can to support this amazing charity.
“Not Just Travel kickstarted all of this with their generous support in their team and now I have a new sport in my life that I love that motivates me.”
Not Just Travel will further support The Pink Foundation when its corporate team and consultants take on a trek in Peru in November 2024.
The company is also entering teams into the Travel Trade Crusade cross-Europe car rally in July 2024, an event for which it is the headline sponsor.
Harrison said: “As a company, we are upping our social responsibility, but it shows that you can have fun by doing some wacky stuff with your friends and colleagues while doing good.”
Not Just Travel launched its learning and development programme in May, giving corporate staff freedom to spend £500 on their personal or professional development.