Insurance manager takes on 615 mile ultramarathon for charity

615 miles, 14 days, 1 man, no rest …

Next month, Covéa Insurance’s Business Change Manager, Paul Ali will be undertaking his biggest challenge to date, an incredible 615 mile, continuous ultramarathon event aiming to raise money for the insurer’s partner charity, the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service.

The keen runner is no stranger to a challenge, having run regular marathons and ultramarathons for several years and in 2015 taking on the Spartathlon, an epic event in which Paul ran from Athens to Sparta (pictured).

This year, Paul will be facing the inaugural Monarchs Way Ultra, the UK's longest non-stop ultra-race; “615 miles in 14 days - 44 miles minimum each day, no rest days or overnight stops.”

The event commences on Saturday 28th May 2016 in Worcester and competitors are challenged to complete the event within a fortnight, travelling a footpath that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after defeat in the Battle of Worcester.

Support throughout the event is limited, with runners only able to access race supplies and equipment every 25-50 miles.

Paul’s efforts will go towards generating vital funds for Alexander Devine Hospice Service, one of Covéa Insurance’s partner charities; which supports children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

Alexander Devine are currently raising funds to build Berkshire’s first children’s hospice, a desperately needed service for children in Berkshire and the surrounding counties. Completion of this project, later this year, will help deliver a more comprehensive service to local children and their families.

Despite having completed numerous events in the past, this is Paul’s toughest endeavour yet, he commented:

“Taking part in a 615 mile continuous event is a huge undertaking and this will be one of the most challenging events I have ever attempted particularly in view of the limited contact and support over such a long distance, but I am confident I will finish and hopefully my efforts will assist this much-needed charity.”

If you’d like to support Paul in his epic challenge, donations can be made via the Just Giving website at: https://www.justgiving.com/paulali2016/

Or text donations can be made by texting “PAUL89 £1” (or £2, £5, £10) to 70070.

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About Covéa Insurance

Covéa Insurance Plc is the UK underwriting business of leading French mutual insurance group Covéa (which includes the global reinsurer PartnerRe since July 2022). 

Covéa Insurance looks after the insurance needs of UK customers, across a range of product lines; delivering financial reassurance through its Standard & Poor’s ‘AA- stable’ rating, as a guaranteed subsidiary of Covéa.  

Covéa Insurance has a strong people and service ethos and holds ServiceMark accreditation with Distinction for its Personal Lines operation and its Commercial & HNW Claims teams, as well as Chartered Insurer status for its Commercial business. Covéa Insurance is signatory to the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter and the insurance Inclusivity Pledge and has been named one of the top 75 employers in West Yorkshire & the Humber. In 2022 Covéa Insurance was named Insurer of the Year at the British Claims Awards and Personal Lines Insurer of the Year at the Insurance Times Awards.