Thanks to our Positive Change initiative, LAVA has the great privilege of working with organisations dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children and teens. One of our key partners is WellChild, the wonderful charity helping to get seriously ill children across the UK out of hospital, and home to their families.
You might have seen some of the great stuff we’ve done together before, and now three of our LAVAly team have put their reputations (and knees!) on the line by running this year’s London Marathon to provide ever more sick children and their families with the support, training and resources they need to thrive at home.
LAVA partners Hamish and Simon were first to sign up, having taken part in last year’s event in aid of NSPCC, and they used their notable powers of persuasion to convince a somewhat reluctant Sunil to join them, marking his very first marathon.
A much warmer and sunnier day than anticipated upped the challenge, yet a record number of runners from all abilities, backgrounds and age groups came together to achieve an incredible feat in support of a vast range of worthy causes. From several dozen rhinos to the Blackpool Tower, there was no shortage of costumed craziness to spot as a spectator, and the effort and commitment shown by each and every runner was genuinely awe-inspiring.
A massive well done to all three LAVA runners, and the ~150 others making up #TeamWellChild!
Here’s what the LAVA crew had to say:
Sunil Samani:
I’d never done a marathon before so I wasn’t sure what to expect (except pain!) but it was such a good feeling running through different parts of London, hearing the support of the public, and seeing so many runners, of all ages and abilities, having a go and supporting each other along the way. While it was just as challenging as I’d feared, pushing through to do my best for WellChild, and seeing my wife and daughters cheering for me at the finish line, made it all worthwhile.
Sunil Samani Associate Director, LAVA
Hamish Martin:
One of the non-negotiables when founding LAVA was our Positive Change initiative, enabling us to give back right from day one by committing 2.5% of revenue directly to worthy causes like WellChild. Having that motivation in the back of your mind really helps push through the pain, whether that’s in the marathon, or the final days of a challenging deal process, and it’s fantastic to be able to make a difference while doing something we love. Can’t wait for next year!
Hamish Martin LAVA partner
Simon Woodcock:
I’m constantly impressed by the commitment and dedication of the whole WellChild team. They work incredibly hard all year round for some of the UK’s most seriously ill children and they also go above and beyond to pull together support for a whole host of challenge events, as well as a great bash after the race, all with a smile on their faces. I’m privileged to support them and excited to have my name down for Chicago Marathon later this year!
Simon Woodcock LAVA Partner
If you’re a business looking for your next charity partner, here are just some of the things WellChild can do with your support:
About WellChild
WellChild is the national charity for seriously ill children, dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and young people with complex medical needs, and their families. Through practical and emotional support, WellChild helps families navigate the challenges they face enabling them to truly thrive, at home and in their communities.
