AWTE raises £500 for suicide prevention charity

The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) raised more than £500 for a suicide prevention charity to mark World Mental Health Day.

Michelle Laverick, AWTE’s vice-chair and PR director, took part in a tandem skydive in Northamptonshire to fundraise for Papyrus, the association’s chosen charity for 2022 and 2023.

Laverick said: “I do enjoy a challenge but this completely took me out of my comfort zone.

More: Special Report: World Mental Health Day focus

“However, the opportunity to help raise awareness and funding for Papyrus which does such an incredible role in helping to save the lives of young people was worth every second of insecurity.

“I am still not too sure how I did it, and leaving the plane was a bit of a blur, but the views were incredible and I was thrilled when I finally made it back down to sold ground safely.”

Additionally, AWTE’s partnership director Gail Kenny climbed to the top of Mount Toubkal in north Africa ahead of the Abta conference in Marrakech to fundraise for local communities and for Abta LifeLine.

“I am so thrilled with the amazing challenges which have been undertaken by the incredible women from the AWTE board over the weekend, raising money for differing charities at the heart of the travel industry and the AWTE.

“It amazes me every day how we have so many fantastic people in the travel industry who go above and beyond for others.”