The Bay Restaurant Group was so shocked when purchasing manager Adam Donnelly decided to run the London Marathon for charity, that they offered to match any donations he received, pound for pound, raising his grand total to £10k.
Inspired to run the marathon after taunts about his weight at a family wedding, Adam embarked upon months of training and donation seeking from friends, family, and business associates, who generously gave £5k for children’s charity, Barnardo’s.
Adam was further delighted when bosses at Bay, who own the Slug and Lettuce, Ha Ha Bar & Grill and La Tasca chains, offered to double what he had garnered so far,
“Knowing I had raised £5k for Barnardo’s spurred me on to finish,” said Adam. “So when Suzanne Baker, Commercial Director at Bay reminded me in the office on Monday morning of her promise to match my total I was really delighted. It makes all the hard work training for it worthwhile.”
Adam’s training was spurred on by the guidance of Barnardo’s patrons Floella Benjamin and Daley Thompson (pictured, right, with Adam, left), who accompanied him on training runs.
Kerry Huntington OF Barnardo’s said: “Adam’s hard work coupled with the kind support of the Bay Restaurant Group will ensure that Barnardo’s can continue to make a difference to the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the UK today. Let’s hope Adam enjoyed himself enough to join us again next year!”
Barnardo’s works with around 115,000 British children and their families who are affected by poverty, homelessness, disability and abuse.