Caroline Esmilaire, from Pimlico, will be pushing her body to the limits on Sunday 26 April so she can help life-limited children get the specialist equipment they need, when they really need it.
Caroline, Director of Revenue Strategy for the five-star London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, will be swapping her business suit for a Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children running vest to tackle the 26.2 mile marathon route around the capital.
Caroline, who has worked for the Marriott hotels group in London for four years, said: “I have run a bit, but I wouldn’t really say I am a runner. However, I have been in training for the past year and tackled a half-marathon – with another one in north London scheduled for March – so I am quietly confident.”
She decided to take on the marathon challenge for Newlife Foundation after finding out about the charity’s work with families of disabled and terminally ill children throughout London and the rest of the UK.
Newlife is supported by a string of Marriott hotels; the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square has already raised £81,505 for the charity, which provides a range of equipment services for disabled babies, children and young people.
One of these services is called Just Can’t Wait, which provides emergency loans of wheelchairs, buggies, specialist beds, seating and portable hoists to families of life-limited children – often within 72 hours. Caroline’s fundraising will support this particular Newlife service, which has made 223 Just Can’t Wait loans, 15 of them in the capital. This is in addition to the £12million-plus awarded in Equipment Grants – £745,635 in London.
Caroline said: “My fundraising target is £2,500 and my colleagues are being very supportive; Jamie, the hotel chef helped with the baking for a cookie sale and others are helping me organise a quiz night. It is important I raise as much money as possible, to help as many children as possible so if anyone would like to sponsor me they can go to www.justgiving.com/caroline-esmilaire and donate.”
For more information about Newlife Foundation, go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk. The Newlife Community Fundraising team can be contacted on 0800 988 4640 (free from UK landlines) or by emailing fundraise@newlifecharity.co.uk.
All equipment support services can be accessed via the Newlife Nurse Helpline – 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines) or email nurses@newlifecharity.co.uk.
Pictured: Caroline Esmilaire
Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/newlifecharity
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newlifefoundation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NewlifeFoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NewlifeFoundation
