In between a series of 13 dirt-drenched obstacles and adrenaline-pumping challenges, I will be running five miles – further than I have run in a very long time. There may well be blood, sweat and tears, but I will wear any bruises with pride and celebrate with a cold beer at the finish line.

Along with 11 of my Advantage Travel Partnership colleagues, I have signed up for Tough Mudder – an endurance course designed by the Special Forces. As the name implies, it will be Tough – with a capital T. But even when I feel that I can’t go on, I will – because we are raising money for a very worthwhile cause: Just a Drop.

We are incredibly fortunate in our country to have access to clean water, and if it takes a bit of dirt to remind me that 663 million people globally do not have access to clean water, I will not mind one bit. We chose Just a Drop because such a cause can completely transform lives. A simple hand-dug well can lead to improved health, better education, secure food sources, improved rights for women, income generation and greater prosperity.

I’m also looking forward to seeing my Advantage colleagues in a different light – well, covered in mud. It’s very easy in an office environment to view your colleagues more as professionals than human beings. We focus on strategy and targets and we all get bogged down by the day-to-day routine. Out on the Tough Mudder course, we will put all that to one side and get bogged down in mud instead. But I know we will have fun and get to know each other better as a result, and it will be a great team-building exercise.

Our members have always been fantastic at fundraising. Westoe Travel is currently rallying the industry to fundraise for the families of the Manchester terror attack victims Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry with Together Forever The Big Prize Draw, which has upwards of 50 prizes. Elsewhere, Baldwins Travel were among almost 30 teams which took part in July’s Travel Trade Crusade. Nick and Chris Marks donned a variety of fancy dress outfits as they drove across Europe to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Alfie’s Hope.

But fundraising doesn’t have to be about setting lofty targets, pushing ourselves to the limit or fancy dress. Even if it’s just baking – and eating – cake or wearing a Christmas jumper, we can all do our bit. We all have a corporate and social responsibility as a business and this is our small way of giving back – I hope it will encourage other business leaders to do the same.

And long after the embarrassment has worn off and the muscle strain has eased, there’s a warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing we will have contributed to such a worthwhile cause. At least that’s what I’m telling myself every time I think about Tough Mudder and shudder. Wish me luck.

Julia Lo Bue-Said is managing director of The Advantage Travel Partnership

To donate to Advantage’s cause, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/MudvantageForJustaDrop