Double Olympian marathon runner and Commonwealth Games medallist Liz Yelling has provided her support to ‘Team 13’ – a fundraising challenge initiated by Julia’s House Corporate Fundraiser, Caroline Attreed to celebrate her thirteenth year at the Dorset and Wiltshire children’s hospice charity.
Caroline has assembled a team of 13 top business leaders who will run 13 miles together in a bid to raise an incredible £13,000 to help local families with seriously ill children.
Alongside Caroline, those taking part include James Benamor (CEO, Richmond Group & Julia’s House Ambassador), Alex Bonnet (CEO, Venaspace), Becky Harris (Finance Director, MSO Capital Ltd), Brian Parker (CEO, Britannia Parking & Julia’s House Chair), Chris Fairfax (CEO, Catalyst Property Finance), Doug Sheppard (MD, Parvalux), Iain Williams (CEO, Quick Car Finance), Kelly Black (Director, Richmond Group), Mark Nixon (Partner, Threthowans & Julia’s House Trustee), Martin McAndrew (Director, Blue Thirst), Pip Woods (MD, Rockley Watersports & Julia’s House Ambassador), Tobias Britton (MD, Globacare), Staz Stazicker (Co-Founder, Thru Dark Ltd) and Michelle Cross (PR Manager, OnBuy). The team is being helped by Personal Trainer Sash Von Rappard, who is joining in with training runs and providing motivational support.
Caroline explains, “When I started my role at Julia’s House, James Benamor was one of the first business people I met. James is CEO of Richmond Group and one of our ambassadors. It was James I met with to talk through my idea of this challenge. He helped me to get started and is always such a great motivation and wonderful supporter.
I invited another Julia’s House ambassador, Liz Yelling, to talk to the team before one of our training runs and was so delighted when she said yes! Liz is such an inspirational athlete and has competed in two Olympic marathons. She was really motivational and gave us some great tips and techniques to take away and put into practice.”
Liz put the fundraisers through their paces with some interval training in Poole Park, and left them with a few words of encouragement and advice: “The best thing about going into an event with a team is the support, encouragement and accountability you offer each other, I think this is so motivational, and helps you to get out on those runs, when otherwise you may not. It helps you to feel excited about race day and feeling a part of something. So encourage each other on the journey to the start line, and show interest in each other’s training journeys.”
“Julia’s House has been a huge part of my life for the last 13 years,” says Caroline. “It is an amazing organisation, providing the most incredible support to local families, and I feel so privileged to be a part of it. It’s going to be an exciting year training with Team 13, and I can’t wait for us to cross the finishing line!”
Team 13 will complete the half-marathon challenge for Julia’s House on 9 October. You can support the team with donations by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/team/Team13JH
Find out more about Julia’s House at www.juliashouse.org