CEO to run Athens Marathon

Join us in supporting his efforts to raise money for World Vision

Next month Woods CEO Stéphane Maravel is taking part in the annual Athens Marathon: The Authentic, alongside Fläktgroup colleagues - Group CEO Trevor Young, Ömer Tüzer (Chief Technology Officer) and Sébastien Leichtnam (Chief Services Officer).

The Fläktgroup Fab Four from left to right: Stéphane, Trevor, Sébastien and Ömer

The Marathon Race has always had a prominent place in the hearts and minds of sports enthusiasts, representing the ultimate physical challenge where the human body, soul and mind are tested to their limits as the runner strives to reach the finish line.

It was born from a true historic and heroic event, by a news-bearing foot soldier from ancient Athens, who announced – with his last words – the victory of the Greeks against the Persians during the Marathon Battle in 490 BC. The 42,195m Marathon Race became one of the most competitive events during the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896. A Greek athlete named Spyros Louis, running what has ever since been referred to as the Original Marathon Course from the ancient city of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, won the gold medal of the first modern Olympic Games and became a legend of Greek and International Athletics.

Stéphane’s team Air We Go Again aren’t expecting to win any medals, but they are hoping to raise money for World Vision International, a charity devoted to improving the lives of children facing poverty, abuse, exploitation and emergency situations brought on by war and natural disasters around the globe. Over the last 70 years World Vison has helped 200 million children in over 100 countries, providing them and their families with the tools they need to overcome the conditions they face.

Photo shows a young man running along a country road wearing an orange Woods running shirt

While the senior team is running in Athens on 10th November, Woods (and Fläktgroup) staff are being encouraged to join in by doing their own running (or walking) challenge closer to home, and we’ll make them easy to spot by providing bright orange running shirts and caps. We’re asking them to donate £1 for each mile they run and, in return, the company will match whatever they raise.

Our target is £3000 and staff have already pledged or donated almost half that amount, so it’s looking achievable. If you’d like to support our efforts, there’s a link at the bottom of the page.

We’ll be posting our progress on Linkedin and will share photos here after the event.

Wish us luck!

Our Just Giving fundraising page can be found here. Fläktgroup will be matching all donations.

UPDATE

We are pleased to say that all four execs successfully completed the Athens Marathon, with Stéphane achieving his target and finishing in 4 hours 21 minutes.

Back home in the UK colleagues James, Tom, Harry, Gemma, Andy, Kerry, Katerina, Mahadeshway, Mandy and Alex also took to the streets, running, walking and cycling almost 100 miles between them.

And, at the time of writing this we have raised a total of 4130 Euro - smashing our 3000 Euro target - which will be matched by Fläktgroup.

Congratulations, thank you and well done!

Stephane, Trevor and Sebastien proudly wearing their Athens Marathon Medals

2024-10-15