Travel industry professionals will complete a rainforest trek, a half marathon run and a hike up the volcano of Gros Piton when the challenge takes place over 17-20 October, as well as a further 12km run and 10km sea kayak around the island.
The first Sandals Foundation Island Challenge took place in Antigua in 2023, with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines hosting the second edition last year , and has now raised a total of £200,000 for paediatric care in the region.
Athletes hope to raise a further £100,000 this year to fund essential new equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit in the paediatric division of Saint Lucia’s Millennium Medical Complex.
TTG Media is once again sponsoring the event as media partner, with companies including British Airways, Hays Travel, Mail Metro Media, Men’s Health magazine and TripAdvisor also supporting the initiative.
Karl Thompson, managing director of Unique Vacations UK, which represents Sandals Resorts, said: “I’m so proud of what the Island Challenge team has achieved over the last two years.
"£200,000 is a phenomenal amount of money and it has made a huge difference to paediatric healthcare facilities in the Caribbean and to families going through extremely difficult times.
"I’d like to say a massive thank you to all the participants, volunteers and donors who have supported us so far – we really couldn’t do it without you.”
Heidi Clarke, executive director of the Sandals Foundation, added: “This event has provided hope to thousands of premature and ill babies for the past two years and we are excited about increasing those numbers through this year’s event.”
The travel industry is encouraged to support the challenge by donating to the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge Justgiving page.
