UK. We are honoured to celebrate two incredible efforts on behalf of #KickCancerThon, the travel retail visibility and fundraising campaign for cancer research, both involving marathon participations and a wonderful showcasing of the human spirit.

#KickCancerThon is the brainchild of the late Sinead Moodie, who was Chief Operating Officer for The Moodie Davitt Report at the time of the campaign’s launch.

Today (2 May), Essential Communications Founder & Editorial & Key Accounts Director Row Holland is undertaking a personal endurance challenge, taking part in the Royal Marsden Brighton to Eastbourne Marathon Walk.

The route includes the famed and demanding Seven Sisters coastal path and Firle Beacon, making it one of the most challenging marathon walks in the UK.

A dedicated fundraising page for Row’s challenge supports The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. All donations, however small, are welcome.

A true Hogan hero

If Row is #KickCancerThon’s marathon woman, then TFWA Dailies Publisher Paul Hogan is her male equivalent.

As reported, Paul recently ran his own personal #KickCancerThon run from his son Max’s home in Angel-Islington, London to his house in Cowden, Kent – a distance of 52km and officially an ‘ultra marathon’.

Paul completed this daunting feat in dual honour of his own daughter Brontë, who passed in 2011 aged just 12, after a long five-year battle with leukaemia, and our own dear Sinead.

Thanks to the generosity of his sponsor, protein snacks brand Jack Link’s, Paul raised an impressive US$3,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

But Paul had not stopped there. Almost two months to the day later (26 April), he set forth on the famed London Marathon in another fantastic effort, raising £5,000 (US$6,800) for Children With Cancer UK, courtesy of generous support from lead sponsor German confectionery house Haribo and other partners.

Emblazoned with the leading fruit gummies house branding across their shirts, the TFWA Dailies marathon team (comprising Paul and his son Dr Max Hogan), ran as ‘TeamBron’ in memory of Brontë (‘Bron’).

Writing for The TFWA Dailies, Paul takes up the story, “But this year there was an added poignancy and common cause with the loss in February of Sinead Moodie, COO of The Moodie Davitt Report, to an aggressive form of cancer.

“Therefore, alongside our prominent Haribo branding, our shirts also declared that we ran for ‘Team Sinead’, just as I had in February when I completed a 52km ultra marathon distance for Sinead’s brilliant #KickCancerThon campaign which has raised a considerable six-figure sum – and continues to roll on.

“We have had some varying sponsors down the years – many times we ran in Ryanair branding and colours – but grateful as we are, I can’t say the crowds expressed quite as much love for them as they obviously did for Haribo.

“When at one point I stopped in pain, I wasn’t asked about my injury, but whether I had any Haribo. As it happens, I did run with a pack of Tangfastics, a particular favourite of mine.”

“As a brand that focuses on the simple joys of childhood we were delighted to support The TFWA Dailies and Children With Cancer at this year’s London Marathon,” said Haribo Director Marketing and Trade Marketing Travel Retail Elisa Fontana.

“This remarkable organisation and its inspirational team has raised over US$400 million, including regular support from Paul (and his sons), whose own commitment has raised over US$600,000 for a range of causes over the past 20 years.”

Alas Paul’s hamstring gave up at 10k. And although he battled on bravely for another 2k, even this redoubtable Hogan hero had to say enough and wait for his next (19th) marathon.

But how about the Max factor, as it were? Paul’s son completed the distance in a highly impressive 3 hours and 19 minutes.

Paul will be back. And, hey, another bereaved father may be with him. Watch this space.

About #KickCancerThon

#KickCancerThon continues to attract amazing support from our business community globally. We will bring you more remarkable stories next week as the campaign nears its conclusion.

As revealed in her August 2025 Blog, Sinead Moodie was diagnosed last July with NUT Carcinoma Lung Cancer, a rare, ultra-aggressive variant of the disease. She subsequently underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Tragically, Sinead lost her battle for life on 1 February, the very same day #KickCancerThon officially kicked off. The campaign continues in her honour and is now stretching into April and beyond.

The Moodie Davitt Report is asking the travel retail and aviation communities to join us in raising funds and visibility for local cancer research or related cancer causes around the world. It is a classic ‘Think Global, Act Local’ initiative.

PREVIOUS #KICKCANCERTHON CASE STUDIES

40. How Ethos Farm walked the walk for a noble cause

Ethos Farm, the acclaimed UK specialist agency in elevating Employee Experience and Customer Experience across aviation, retail, rail and real estate, has completed a remarkable multi-national effort for #KickCancerThon, the travel retail visibility and fundraising campaign for cancer research.

Members of the UK headquarters team (including Founder & CEO Sally Alington) walked from one Westfield shopping centre in London to another (Stratford to White City), wearing Ethos Farm magenta t-shirts and encouraging passers-by to contribute via a QR code linked directly to the JustGiving page for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

If you would like to support Ethos Farm’s contribution to the cause, please click here.

Their route took in The Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, where the hospital’s Fundraising Team was on hand to greet them.

More support came from the amazing Ethos Farm Americas team, which clocked up further miles to add to the fundraising total by walking across Manhattan to the company’s new office in Hudson Yards.

Collectively, they walked the equivalent of 13.5 marathons, raising an impressive £4,100 (US$5,532) for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, plus £823 (US$1,110) in Gift Aid.

Here are some glorious pictorial highlights.

39. Avolta and World Future Enterprises organise TFWA Asia Pacific fund-raiser

Avolta and World Future Enterprises are inviting delegates to the forthcoming TFWA Asia Pacific show (10-14 May) to lace up their running shoes for a 5km Run/Walk in support of #KickCancerThon, the travel retail campaign to raise funds and visibility for cancer research.

In line with the campaign’s ‘global + local’ philosophy, all funds raised will be donated to Children’s Cancer Foundation Singapore, an outstanding Social Service Agency whose mission is to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and their families impacted by the disease.

Those wishing to participate can register here.

Delegates are asked to meet in front of the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands at 7:30am on Wednesday 13 May.

Anyone unable to participate can still make a donation via https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/5-km-run–walk-for-children

Donations are requested from S$50 per person (US$39) with dollar for dollar matching to a S$5,000/US$3,900 cap.

Over the years, Children’s Cancer Foundation has helped more than 4,000 children and their families at different stages of the illness and recovery.

The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said, “I am so grateful to Avolta Asia Pacific President & CEO Freda Cheung and World Enterprises Founder Tonya Tan for their incredible support and generosity in organising this event during one of our sector’s key trade shows.

“My team will be there in support and we very much hope the travel retail community will turn out in force to support Avolta, World Future Enterprises, Children’s Cancer Foundation Singapore and #KickCancerThon and to honour dear Sinead’s memory and legacy.”

38. The Moodie Davitt Report team honours a fallen colleague

As #KickCancerThon gathered extraordinary momentum across the travel retail community, The Moodie Davitt Report team came together in a powerful display of solidarity to honour their beloved late colleague Sinead.

From marathons and multi-discipline fitness efforts to reflective walks, fundraising drives and deeply personal tributes, each contribution underscored the campaign’s core purpose: to stand up to this bully of a disease and drive the global battle to eradicate it.

As part of The Moodie Davitt Report team effort behind the #KickCancerThon campaign, President Dermot Davitt along with his wife Michelle and daughters Aoife and Ciara proudly completed a marathon each through February and into early March, raising a combined £1,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

The Davitt family (pictured on a rare sunny Galway day in their #KickCancerThon campaign t-shirts) took a multi-disciplinary approach (swimming, running, cycling and walking), split between home in Galway (up and down the city’s famous Promenade as well as in the local leisure pool) and the girls’ respective universities in Dublin (the Trinity College gym for Aoife, UCD’s 50m pool for Ciara).

Dermot Davitt said: “We are proud to stand alongside our many friends, colleagues and business partners to support this cause brought to life by Sinead, and to help raise funds to fight the scourge of cancer.”

For The Moodie Davitt Report Managing Editor Ameesha Raizada, what began as a physical challenge evolved into a reflective and meaningful experience.

She said: “When Sinead and Martin launched #KickCancerThon, my first instinct was to set a clear challenge – pick a day in February and run the full 41k marathon in one go. But as industry support began to pour in, I realised this campaign was about far more than finishing a marathon – it became a moment for solidarity and introspection.

“So I changed my approach,” she added. “Instead of one big run, I headed out for 2-3k in the evenings every few days, starting on 14 February. Over time, those runs became something I really looked forward to. I watched winter quietly turn into spring – daffodils fading into cherry blossoms along my route. In a small way, it felt like a tribute to Sinead.

“My first run was along the Queen’s Walk to Tower Bridge, and I finished on 9 April with a final 2k in Queen’s Park. It’s a place not many people realise has its own runner’s trail winding through a lush landscape, marked by footsteps along the edges.”

She added: “Alongside this, I’ve made what I hope is a lifelong commitment to supporting the Little Princess Trust. It’s a charity I really believe in – they fund childhood cancer research and provide free, real-hair wigs to children and young people (up to 24 years of age) who have lost their hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

“In December, I donated 14 inches of my own hair for the first time. It’s a small thing, but knowing it might help bring confidence or comfort to someone else means a lot.”

Publisher Irene Revilla, Senior Business Editor Mark Lane and Brands Director Hannah Tan all got their beloved canine companions to join their #KickCancerThon efforts.

For Irene, the campaign became a shared family moment – blending determination, adaptability and heartfelt support. She said: “On the weekend of 28 February/1 March, Coco and I decided to try a half marathon walk, while my mum (a cancer survivor) pledged £10 for every kilometre we managed.

“Unfortunately the weather was really awful so we only managed about 12 km. So we decided to give £10 for every 1,000 steps we walked in the end, rounding it up to £160 (plus £40 gift aid!). A small contribution in memory of Sinead.”

The Moodie Davitt Report Senior Business Editor Mark Lane and his Labrador Retriever Maddie walked the equivalent of 53 miles (roughly two marathons) for #KickCancerThon.

They did so across Northeast England beaches during February and March, primarily the beach walks between the North-East coastal towns Redcar, Marske and Saltburn, finally completing the quest just before the end of March

They raised £312 in sponsorship from family and friends, and a collection at Mark’s local – The Griffin pub, Thornaby in Stockton-on-Tees. The funds have been donated to Sinead’s dedicated page for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Mark said: “Like everyone who knows the Moodie family, I felt deep sorrow for what happened to Sinead and the impact on the loved ones left behind. I thought about it a lot during these walks.

“I was determined to make a contribution, alongside my beloved pooch Maddie, who was well up for the challenge! She went bonkers with joy every time I said the word ‘beach’ ahead of each leg of the walk, as she knew what was coming.

“It has been awe-inspiring to watch efforts across the world from the travel retail community to raise money and I was pleased to do my small bit to help the fantastic Royal Marsden Cancer charity.”

Brands Director Hannah Tan completed a double marathon distance running with her loyal pooch Charlie in tow (or was it Charlie running with Hannah in tow?). She also shared their journey on Instagram where she invited her community to donate to our official #KickCancerThon donation page for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Hannah said: “When #KickCancerThon was first launched, I knew I wanted to contribute in a way that felt both personal and purposeful. Together with my dog Charlie, I set out to complete a double marathon distance, running through rain, wind and the occasional burst of sunshine.

“To me, #KickCancerThon wasn’t just about endurance or ticking off a distance – it was about standing in solidarity with those affected by cancer and using whatever platform or energy we have to make a difference.

“Alongside this, I made a £125 donation to Look Good Feel Better UK, a charity whose work I find incredibly powerful,” she added.

“I discovered Look Good Feel Better through The Estée Lauder Companies, as the charity is one of many benefitting from the support of The Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Campaign. Their workshops support people navigating the physical and emotional impact of cancer treatment, offering practical tips on using beauty products and tools to regain their confidence.

“What stands out most is the sense of community they create, giving people a space to connect, feel understood and regain a sense of control during an incredibly difficult time. As a beauty enthusiast myself, I know how powerful a tool beauty can be to helping someone feel better about themselves even during difficult times.”

Head of Digital Delivery Declan Moodie, Sinead’s brother, combined his interests with his charitable efforts.

He said: “For #KickCancerThon, I wanted to do something that spoke to my interests more. As a football fan and Brentford season ticket holder, I decided I would do two walks from my house to the ground, which is 12.4 miles per walk. Combined, that closely totals the distance of a marathon.

“I believe Sinead would be incredibly proud of the effort everyone has put in and even though this is just a small part of the collective effort, I am proud to do my part. I am amazed by some of the initiatives people have taken part in in her memory.”

The Moodie Davitt Report Development and Systems Operations Director Matt Willey charted a measured and determined return from injury as part of his #KickCancerThon efforts.

“After a period on the sidelines with a torn meniscus in my knee, which has unfortunately set both training and the initially scheduled hike back, I’ve been easing back into walking the last couple of weeks,” he said.

“I’ve been building distance and endurance through a series of single-day hikes, designed to increase stamina before the bigger challenge.

“Recent outings have included hikes/climbs such as Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales, modest in height among the Yorkshire Three Peaks at 2,277 feet, but a good test of pace, terrain and stamina,” he added.

“The walks are less about the summit and more about developing strength and getting comfortable with more mileage, varied terrain and pacing. Over the coming weeks, I’ll continue to the distance and difficulty.

“The goal is a three-day stretch along the Ribble Way this July, covering 53.5km (33.3 miles) from Longton through Preston and Ribchester to Clitheroe.

“The route follows the River Ribble from its tidal estuary inland toward the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, offering a changing landscape of marshland, riverside meadows, open countryside and historic landmarks.

“Along the way, I’ll pass Penwortham Bridge, the Ribchester Roman Museum – built on the site of a significant Roman fort and Clitheroe Castle, one of the smallest Norman keeps in England.”

Matt noted: “I’ll also be capturing elements of the journey on video, sharing reflections from the trail and highlighting the purpose behind the walk, as part of the wider effort to support #KickCancerThon.”

Senior International Account Manager Aran Turner split the #KickCancerThon distance between walking and cycling in February, March and April.

Some of the highlights included walking Moel Famau, North Wales (6km), Chester Roman Walls (3km), Horseshoe Falls to Llangollen (7km) and the remaining distance covered through multiple bike outings on the bike across North Wales and Chester.

Aran donated £200 to various cancer charities via different #KickCancerThon industry incentives from Kevin Brocklebank, Row Holland, Duty Free Global and The Moodie Davitt Report’s page for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Another team member to have completed a marathon distance by hiking is Hong Kong-based Head of Events Vincci Chung. She said: “Participating in #KickCancerThon has been one of the most meaningful challenges of my life, undertaken in loving memory of my dear colleague and friend, Sinead Moodie.

“As someone who had the privilege of working closely with her, I will always remember her remarkable strength, positivity and unwavering dedication. Completing this marathon is my way of honouring the brave, kindhearted woman she was; she remains forever in my thoughts, and I know her legacy will fuel countless more miles in the fight against any disease.”

Manila-based Associate Editor Camille Bersola joined the team’s #KickCancerThon efforts from the Philippines. She said: “I began my #KickCancerThon journey with my brother Gabriel, joining a meaningful Visita Iglesia pilgrimage across Manila, a walk offered in faith, solidarity and purpose.

“We began at UST Church and walked to Quiapo Church, then continued to Sta. Cruz Church and Binondo Church, pausing for reflection at each stop,” Camille explains.

“We then proceeded to Intramuros, visiting Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church and reflecting along the historic walls before heading toward Manila Bay, catching the sunset along the way, and concluding at The Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus nearby.

She added: “In each church, we carried heartfelt intentions, offering special prayers for our late colleague, Sinead, and for all those courageously battling cancer and other illnesses, and for peace and healing for the world.

“We also gave thanks for the strength, clarity and every moment of peace and protection we receive, even in the midst of uncertain times.

“Through this journey, we are helping raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Together, Gabriel and I made a combined 20km and we will continue our journey in the coming weeks as we build on this effort.”

Strategic Partnerships Lead Christelle Hill did the 100 Squats a Day in February for Cancer Research UK , while raising an impressive £415.

She said: “KickCancerThon resonated with me as I lost my father to bowel cancer last year. So Sinead’s battle really struck a chord. I am not a sporty person at all but I support Cancer Research UK and wanted this year again to raise funds for them so I chose the daily squats challenge, despite dodgy knees, as I knew I could do it regardless of the weather.

“I stuck to it as it was for a great cause and managed it (whilst travelling for work) in my hotel room. I enjoyed the experience as it showed me that when I am doing something for a great cause I find the time and energy.”

Chief Sub-Editor Leanne Farnell hosted a fundraising event for #KickCancerThon at her local Rugby Club in Milton Keynes.

Leanne takes up the story: “What do you do when you’re unable to take on the marathon distance yourself in support of #KickCancerThon? You enlist a team of willing and able rugby players, of course.

“Unfortunately, that’s the case for me. Once a long-distance runner with a marathon and multiple half marathons under my belt, I am currently on the subs’ bench and receiving treatment for chronic knee osteoarthritis.”

As well as keeping The Moodie Davitt Report’s team of writers in grammatical shape, Leanne is also Manager of her son Harry’s rugby team. And it’s this inspiring group of ten and 11-year-olds from Milton Keynes RUFC (MKRUFC) that stepped up to tackle the marathon distance on her behalf.

Choosing MKRUFC’s charity of the year for the 2025/26 season, Milton Keynes Hospital Charity, the team raised funds for the city’s Cancer Centre in its mission to launch a Radiotherapy Centre and special wellbeing area.

“The MK Cancer Centre sees approximately 125 patients a day for chemotherapy and blood tests alone. Many require radiotherapy as part of their treatment plan, and this new facility will offer a safe and peaceful haven for patients and their friends and families,” Leanne explains.

On Sunday 22 February, the MKRUFC U11s took part in an innovative fundraising training session. With support from Leanne, her husband and team head coach Steven, a top-class coaching team and members of the MKRUFC senior squad, the boys and girls covered the marathon distance as a team, completing various rugby drills along the way.

Embracing the five core values of English rugby – Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship (TREDS) – each player ran the perimeter of an U11-sized rugby pitch approximately ten times, stopping at multiple stations to tackle, pass, ruck, maul and, of course, score some tries.

“Please join us in getting behind the team and helping to raise some vital funds for MK Hospital Charity. Together, we can help transform lives,” Leanne concludes.

For Senior Finance and Business Operations Manager Kristyn Branisel, #KickCancerThon became a deeply personal tribute to her close friend Sinead Moodie.

Looking back on her #KickCancerthon journey, Kristyn said: “My husband Matthew Egan and I jogged in January for The Royal Marsden because Sinead Moodie was one of my best friends and I wanted to raise money for the place that was taking exceptional care of her at the time.

“My husband and I were on a train going to Cardiff and I came across this fundraiser, and I said let’s do it for #KickCancerThon.

“I have never ever jogged in my life. I told Sinead about our goal and that she was one of the only people who would prompt me to do this. I did originally want to jump out of a plane [wearing a parachute – Editor] for #KickCancerthon but my husband was not so keen on this idea so we stuck to jogging.

Kristyn added: “My husband was able to complete the 31 miles and I am proud of him. Unfortunately, I somehow managed to fracture my ankle after my 11th mile. While I was waiting for my results at the clinic in Morriston, Wales, I was texting Sinead about my ankle and we had a hilarious conversation about my experience, with her saying funny things like ‘At least you will make The Moodie Blog’ and ‘Next time stick to sky diving’.

“When the nurse said I should probably not go to Doha, Qatar for The Trinity Forum (which was a couple of days away) Sinead jokingly texted ‘Don’t steal my thunder and die first” followed by ‘Rest up, get better and be kind to yourself.”

“I made the decision to not go to The Trinity Forum and took the nurse and Sinead’s advice. Sinead always told me I need to be kinder to myself.”

“I was devastated to miss The Trinity Forum, but I think it was fate that I was unable to go,” Kristyn added.

“On 1 February, I should have been at a Heathrow hotel room preparing for my early morning flight. Instead, I was at my home in Pontardawe, Wales ready to go to bed. Before I went to sleep, Sinead’s husband informed us of the worst news imaginable that Sinead had peacefully passed away that evening.

“I still cannot believe that the last conversation I had with Sinead was the joyful one I had in the emergency room, even her last text to me a couple days later was ‘Is your leg okay?’.

Even though I didn’t really know how bad a shape she was in, she was still more concerned about me. That was the person Sinead was. She was one of the most caring and amazing people I knew.

“I do plan to finish my jog for #KickCancerThon when my ankle feels 100% better and I will do it for Sinead and #KickCancerThon. I am sure wherever Sinead is, she will be cheering me on and secretly wishing I do a sky dive instead.”

For The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, #KickCancerThon has been a profoundly poignant, powerful, often sad yet always enriching journey.

A journey divided into two chapters – one from the event’s conception in Sinead and husband Adrian’s Ystradgynlais home in Wales shortly after her terrible diagnosis of NUT Carcinoma lung cancer last July, and the second from the day she passed, 1 February 2026, perversely the very day #KickCancerThon officially launched.

Martin said: “Sinead’s passing is still too raw for me to properly articulate either the depth of her loss or how much the support of the travel community and her colleagues means to me and our family. So instead, I will just repeat some words I said on that gruelling but beautiful day in February when we said our final goodbyes. It ran like this:

“You all know some of the story. But not all of it. You know about Sinead’s diagnosis with stage 4 Nut Carcinoma lung cancer. You know how she was treated with care and compassion at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London that had saved my life  years earlier. And also at local hospitals here in Wales.

“You know how she fought like hell.

“What those outside the family and her closest friends don’t know is how she continued to look after and look out for others during those months. Sinead was of course the centre of all our attention now, something she disliked, but she fought all the while in protecting those closest to her not only from the brutal physical pain she experienced but the fear and sorrow she must have been feeling inside – of her losing her loved ones, and them losing her.

“What those of you outside the family and my and Sinead’s work world also don’t know is how she in the midst of all this conceived a movement to raise visibility and funds for cancer research globally, called #KickCancerThon.

“What has happened since has been simply astonishing. All manner of local cancer causes have been helped  around the world. Every company chooses a local cancer, Sinead wanted it that way rather than it to be about her.

“Ours, not surprisingly, is the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. #KickCancerThon has since raised over US$300,000, a tally rising by the day, all inspired by Sinead’s idea and a deeply moving Blog she wrote last August when she said, ‘Cancer may not believe in karma, but I am determined to make my own.’

“And she did. Many, many lives will be saved around the world thanks to the courage and inspiration of this young woman and her power of quiet.

“Farewell Sinead. Aroha mai, aroha atu. Love given, love returned.”

37. EVERRICH scales new heights as campaign reaches astounding crescendo

Plus the latest from:

* Avolta Dominican Republic and Avolta Mexico;

* Ethos Farm; CSA (Caroline South Associates);

* YOUME Coaching (Diana Albiol);

* Altura (formerly Versilia);

* Sunil Tuli (King Power Group Hong Kong and APTRA);

* Philip Wilson;

* Travel Markets Insider, TRUnblocked and TRBusiness.

A. Taiwanese travel retailer EVERRICH Duty Free has shared what surely rank among the most vivid, joyous and memorable images of #KickCancerThon.

As reported, (see Case Studies 8 and 14 below) the company, renowned for its commitment to good causes and giving back to society, organised a wide-ranging fundraiser and visibility campaign for cancer research in February.

Our earlier stories related how Senior Manager Claire Ma from EVERRICH Duty Free’s brilliant Public Affairs department and colleague Liu Liang-Tsen (pictured below) got things underway by hiking to Yushan (Mt. Jade), the highest peak in Taiwan at an elevation of 3,952 metres.

As the first photo below shows, Claire and Liang-Tsen were not alone in showing the company at the peak of its humanitarian powers.

The entire EVERRICH Duty Free team from all around Taiwan (including the offshore islands) participated in #KickCancerThon. Afterwards, company President Kevin Chiang made a substantial donation on behalf of EVERRICH Duty Free to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in London.