The team ran 100 kilometres over four days in hot, humid weather to secure more than £101,000 for the Sandals Foundation.

All the £101,315 raised so far will be donated the SickKids Caribbean Initiative and the Paediatric Unit of Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre in Antigua to fund medical equipment and resources to support paediatric healthcare on the island.

Karl Thompson, managing director of Unique Vacations UK, Sandals Resorts sales and marketing representatives - and one of the runners - said: “The hot and humid weather conditions were intense, but these were the challenges that we had anticipated and taking part alongside a team of colleagues meant we were able to support each other along the way. All of the work put in by the Sandals Foundation was incredible.”

Thompson added that the success of the run has meant that the team are considering making it an annual event.

“Visiting Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre and seeing first-hand the impact that these funds will have on the local community in Antigua was incredibly moving. Our goal was to raise £100,000, but we actually exceeded that amount thanks to the support of our amazing sponsors and partners.”

Each leg of the Island Run was split by roughly 25 kilometres a day, starting at Antigua’s Dickenson Bay, but crossing landmarks including Jolly Harbour, English Harbour, Crab Hill, Nelson’s Dockyard and the Sir Viv Richards’ Cricket Stadium. The runners also visited Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre as part of the challenge.

The team was made up of representatives from the travel industry and the media including Unique Vacations UK, British Airways, Hays Travel, Northstar Travel Group and events agency MC3. Individuals from Good Housekeeping/Runners World, Mail Metro Media, media agency The 7 Stars and Corpay also took part alongside physiotherapist agency UpSamDown.

Gillian Wickers, head of UK leisure sales at British Airways, who took part in the final leg of the run, said: “The Caribbean is an important part of the British Airways network and BA was delighted to be a sponsor of the Island Run – Antigua 2023 supporting the work of the Sandals Foundation across the Caribbean Islands.  

“Running in the heat was certainly a challenge but worth it to cross the finish line and help raise some funds towards the target.  Well done to everyone involved!”

After the final leg of the challenge, a beach party was held at Sandals Grande Antigua for local people and sponsors.

Since it was established in 2009, the Sandals Foundation has supported projects valued at over $79 million. The foundation’s executive director, Heidi Clarke, said: “We are absolutely over the moon with the success of the inaugural Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023. The dedication and support from all the runners went unmatched, and the effort that the team put into this event - from the planning stages right through to the run itself - was simply incredible.

“Through their hard work and fundraising efforts, along with the fantastic sponsors and partners involved, we have now successfully raised over £100,000 for two amazing programmes impacting children’s health in the Caribbean. We are so grateful for this opportunity, and to everyone who took part.”

The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 is still open for donations – visit here to contribute.