I came across this quote by Kathrine Switzer (the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, in 1967) on Sunday evening, having just run my own 26.2 mile race in aid of Children with Cancer UK, along with three other members of the TTG team – Daniel Pearce, Jennifer Morris and Chris Gascoine.

This year’s London Marathon was a hot, sweaty and exhausting race but the words of Switzer rang true. As our legs grew jelly-like, our knees wobbly and every muscle burned, it was the incredible support from strangers that kept us going.

Last Sunday not only showed humanity at its best; it highlighted what can be achieved with the support of others. It’s a concept familiar to those in travel. There are few industries where quite so many competitors work alongside each other in order to achieve a common goal – from rival Clia members working to raise the profile of cruise, to independent tour operators in Aito uniting to promote their sector.

The generosity of travel was also evident at the weekend. Numerous faces from across the industry also took on the gruelling distance and raised huge sums for chosen charities, including Wendy Wu’s John Warr (British Heart Foundation), Abta’s John de Vial and Cosmos’s Janet Parton (both Family Holiday Association). TTG was also able to surpass its £8,000 target thanks to the industry’s support. And the fundraising continues this week, with the new 30 Under 30 intake’s support of Abta Lifeline, and a series of summer events announced by the FHA.

It’s true what they say – finishing a marathon is a state of mind that says anything is possible. And after completing our charity year with Children with Cancer UK this week, we look forward to announcing TTG Media’s new charity partner at our Top 50 Travel Agencies ceremony on Thursday night!