Wokingham man to take on 50-mile Caribbean challenge

Karl Thompson, the managing director of Unique Vacations UK Ltd, the global sales and marketing affiliate for Sandals Resorts, will be part of a team attempting to raise £100,000 for The Sandals Foundation.

Last year, Mr Thompson and 24 other ultra-marathon runners raised £101,216 for paediatric health facilities in the Caribbean during the first Island Run - Antigua 2023.

The group endured 25 kilometres per day over four days in the 'scorching' Caribbean heat and humidity.

From left to right: Karl Thompson, Ryan Irving and Graeme Saunders after the completion of Island Run - Antigua 2023 (Image: Supplied)

This year, Mr Thompson and his team will take on a demanding 50-mile Island Challenge in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, aiming to raise another £100,000 for beneficiaries of The Sandals Foundation, Sandals Resorts International's non-profit organisation.

The challenge includes a half-marathon around the mainland of Saint Vincent, two 15-kilometre runs, 22 miles of sea kayaking, and an all-day hike to the summit of the country’s active volcano, La Soufrière.

Mr Thompson said: "We decided to host the Island Challenge in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to continue the great work we did in 2023 to raise funds for essential medical equipment for paediatric facilities in the Caribbean.

"Sandals Resorts recently opened a new resort in Saint Vincent, and it’s always been part of the brand’s ethos to immerse itself and support the local communities.

"Following the passing of Hurricane Beryl, we also wanted to use some of the money raised for hurricane relief efforts in the Southern Grenadine islands where some of the healthcare facilities need repairing and new medical equipment as a result."

The funds raised will help the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, which serves the entire population of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The 215-bed hospital provides 24-hour emergency service and the paediatric department manages neonates and children up to 15 years old, on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Projects funded by the Sandals Foundation are thought to have impacted the lives of more than 1.1 million people in the Caribbean since the charity was established in 2009.

Karl Thompson, the managing director of Unique Vacations UK Ltd (Image: Supplied)

Mr Thompson said: “The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 was one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences of my life.

"It would be a lie to say I’m not nervous about the Island Challenge – Saint Vincent 2024 but I’m also really looking forward to pushing myself in support of the Caribbean communities we care so deeply about."

For more information and to donate to The Sandals Foundation Island Challenge – Saint Vincent 2024, visit justgiving.com/campaign/islandchallenge2024.