More than 30 athletes from the UK and Saint Lucia are currently training hard to undertake a gruelling four days of physical challenges for charity in October.
The volunteers will complete a rainforest trek, a half marathon run and a hike up the volcano of Gros Piton as well as a further 12km run and 10km sea kayak around the island.
The event will mark the third annual Sandals Foundation Island Challenge, which took place in Antigua in 2023, and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2024.
More than £100,000 was raised each year for paediatric care in that destination – and this year a record £122,000 has already been raised to fund essential new equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit at Saint Lucia’s Millennium Medical Complex.
Six members of the team from Unique Vacations UK (which represents Sandals) are taking part, and here reveal which parts they’re looking forward to, which they’re dreading, and why the Sandals Foundation’s fundraising matters so much to the region…
Karl Thompson, managing director
What’s the Sandals Foundation Island challenge all about?
I was one of the founding members of the challenge: two colleagues and I came up with the idea over a pint, and shortly after that we set up the first event in Antigua in 2023, with the help of the Sandals Foundation and Sandals Resorts teams.
The Island Challenge looked a bit different back then – it was a four-day ultra marathon event covering a total distance of 100 kilometres. Now, there are a range of activities designed to really test the participants including volcano hiking, sea kayaking, long distance running, and trekking through tropical rainforest. I’ve always been quite sporty, but I only got into running in lockdown about five-years ago. I ran the London Marathon for the first time this year, and I’ve got two more marathons to go in Berlin and Chicago before we arrive in Saint Lucia next month.
Which element of the challenge are you most looking forward to?
While I love running, I am most looking forward to the rainforest trek from Micoud to Fond St. Jacques as it’s not something I’ve done before. It will be nice to see a different part of the island from a new perspective. I am also really looking forward to hiking Gros Piton. I did it a few years ago but I am fascinated by volcanoes and the views you get on the way to the summit are just amazing.
Which element of the challenge are you least looking forward to?
Probably the half marathon because of the extreme heat and humidity! Running in the Caribbean is just another level.
Why was it important to you to support the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge?
The Sandals Foundation is a charity very close to my heart. It does such incredible work across the Caribbean, even in destinations where Sandals Resorts International doesn’t have resorts. We dreamt up the idea of the Island Challenge back in early 2023 to give back to Caribbean communities, specifically by supporting paediatric health facilities in need of funding for lifesaving equipment. The money raised at the last two Island Challenge events have made a massive difference to families in Antigua and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines which makes it all worth it.
What’s your message for other travel professionals who might consider sponsoring the team)?
We’re all very privileged to work in an industry as wonderful as this where we get to visit amazing, bucket-list destinations and call it work. But it’s also important to give back to the communities in these destinations where some people may not have such an easy life. If you want to donate to a worthy cause and see exactly where the funds that are raised go, this is a great opportunity to do that.
Laura Gravenell, trade marketing executive
Have you ever done anything like this before?
I've only previously done a bit of running and strength training but nothing competitive or an organised event. During covid I managed to get up to doing 21km runs but, to be honest, it was just an excuse to get out of the house! I've never needed to schedule in and plan my life around training before so that’s a new challenge for me, personally.
How are you preparing for the challenge?
I created a 15-week training programme to build up my running distances, while supporting with weight training to strengthen all the muscles that are going to be used during the Island Challenge. I've paired this with a high protein diet and supplements to help with energy and recovery, which have been key to help me make the most of my training time.
Which element of the challenge are you most looking forward to?
Getting to the top of Gros Piton will feel like such an achievement. When this opportunity came up, I really questioned whether I have the mental and physical ability to do it, so after the weeks of training and days pushing myself, being able to look over Saint Lucia from the summit will feel amazing.
Which element of the challenge are you least looking forward to?
Honestly, coming back down Gros Piton! It's always harder than you think coming down...
Why was it important to you to support the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge?
Being lucky enough to work for a luxury travel brand, I think it’s important to give back to those less fortunate. The Sandals Foundation does amazing work all year round, so being able to support such a meaningful cause really matters to me.
Ana Achitei, senior HR advisor
"This is the first time that I’ve done anything of this sort of scale. I didn't think I could run 5km before signing up for the Island Challenge! Seeing the impact that the Island Challenge has had over the past two years has been really inspiring. It doesn’t only make a difference to the lives of premature babies and their families in the Caribbean, but it has also created a wider community of people who are motivated to do good whilst staying active. For me personally, the effect of the training on my mental and physical wellbeing has also been really positive. I’ve wanted to do volunteering and charity work for a long time, and the Island Challenge has finally given me the motivation to act. I want to continue volunteering even after the Island Challenge is over."
Bradley Mills, design manager
"I was lucky enough to also take part in the first Sandals Foundation Island Run event back in 2023, where we ran 100km around Antigua over four consecutive days. It was one of the toughest things I’ve done but genuinely such an incredible experience. Having seen the difference these events make first hand was inspiring. We forget how lucky we are in the UK and the things we take for granted. I’m sure it’s scary enough to experience medical emergencies here where we have state of the art facilities and equipment, but in the Caribbean those same privileges aren’t always available. It really opens your eyes and helps you understand on a human level, just how incredible events like this, and all the work that the Sandals Foundation does, is!"
Jessica Brown, senior digital marketing manager
"I’ve been following a training plan since July, gradually increasing distances each week to be able to run the half marathon. I’m least looking forward to the kayaking, as that was the part of the Island Challenge I found the toughest last year. It’s also quite hard to train for sea kayaking when you live far away from the coast in London! Speaking to the doctors when we visited the hospital in Saint Vincent last year made it clear how much of a difference the funds we had raised would make, so I was very keen to take part again this year and fundraise to help strengthen paediatric care on another island. Any donation would be hugely appreciated both by us and the community in Saint Lucia who will directly benefit from it."
Paige Flockhart, senior marketing executive
"I took part in the Island Challenge in Saint Vincent last year – I feel very honoured to be taking part again for such a worthy cause! It’s important to me to give back to the incredible islands where Sandals Resorts’ properties are located, and this challenge is a meaningful way to do that. I’m especially proud that the funds raised will go towards purchasing new equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit at the Memorial Medical Centre in Saint Lucia as it will make a huge difference to children and families who need vital support. It feels very rewarding to play a part in that."
You can donate to the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge fund via its JustGiving page.
