DIO Portfolio Support Manager, Katie Pell, beat both her fundraising target and her time when she tackled the London Marathon at the end of April on behalf of the Veterans’ Foundation.
By the time she crossed the finishing line at 3:44:17 Katie had already hit her £3,000 fundraising target, with funds still being donated.
It was her first full marathon, but she took it in her stride and says she and her running companion, her cousin David, had a thoroughly rewarding day.
“It was such an amazing day, and I was just so proud to be running for the Veterans’ Foundation,” said Katie.
“I managed to beat my goal of under four hours and am over the moon to have also met and surpassed my fundraising target. It was great to be able to run with my cousin, David, and to be honest I’m not sure I’d have been able to do it without him.
Katie has worked for DIO for 10 years and is passionate about the work the DIO does to enable defence people to live, work, train and deploy.
Katie has already raised funds for the VF through a DIO team cake sale and stepped into this marathon place as a chance to raise even more.
She and David had been training hard but said they loved the challenge and hope to do the same again next year and raise more money in even less time.
“I know the Veterans’ Foundation has given the DIO four places for the London Marathon in 2026, so I am really hoping I’ll manage to get one. I’m really looking forward to doing it again,” she said.
Visit Katie’s fundraising page at justgiving.com/campaign/diovflondonmarathon25
