News

Abta finance chief faces marathon challenge for travel charity

Abta finance chief John de Vial is setting out on the equivalent of 4.5 marathons in a week to raise thousands of pounds for the Family Holiday Association.

He is kicking off the challenge by participating in the London Marathon on Sunday followed by a 42k walking marathon while commuting on April 24-28 and then a 106km ultra endurance marathon around the Isle of Wight on April 29-30.

The total distance of the equivalent of 4.5 marathons is 190km in a week.

“Tui UK, great supporters of the FHA, are once again supporting me and have generously agreed to provide £5,000 in match funding. So, every £1 donated by you will become £2 plus any Gift Aid for the FHA,” de Vial, the association’s financial protection and financial services director, said.

“I am now past the £10,000 mark and looking to get to £12,000 – thus funding 24 average holidays costs for a family with FHA – or one every two weeks for a year.

“This is a brilliant industry supported charity working with the most deprived and vulnerable families in the UK.”

Donations can be made here

Update April 24: John completed the London Marathon in 6:20:55 and came through unscathed. On Monday he was resting up ready for the rest of his ultra-endurance challenge and had already raised a whopping £11,765.

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.