Hospitality Action 'humbled and delighted' by response to 20,000 mile challenge

Hospitality Action has raised more than £68,000 for the industry after completing its 20,000 Mile Hospitality Challenge last night.

Fundraising events director Astrid Wears-Taylor said the charity was "truly humbled and delighted" with how the industry had embraced the fundraiser and "thrilled" with the sponsorship raised to date.

She added: "These funds will make a real and direct impact on the lives of hundreds who are facing hardship as a direct result of Covid-19 over the coming months."

The challenge, which was live for five days, kicked off from Domaine Evremond – Champagne Taittinger's vineyard in Kent – which acted as the virtual start and finish line.

Participants were invited to pledge their mileage, activity and sponsorship with distances recorded via a fitness app that clocked the collective distance as a route around the UK's coastline.

Wears-Taylor added: "It was a huge ask to complete the 20,000 miles in five days but our 553 participants pulled out all the stops to get us round the UK coastline and we collectively surpassed the 20,000 mile target at 10pm last night. What an incredible effort!"