Thomas Cook Trekkers Turn Back Time For Charity

Thomas Cook staff celebrate 170th anniversary by retracing Thomas Cook's famous first journey. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) August 03, 2011 - Peterborough, England - A team of Thomas Cook holidays ( http://www.thomascook.com/holidays ) sales staff and senior management walked 15 miles from Leicester to Loughborough in aid of charity last week (Wednesday 27 July) - retracing the route of the original Thomas Cook Leicester to Loughborough train journey 170 years ago. The fundraising effort coincides with the travel company's 170th anniversary and marked one year to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games, for which Thomas Cook is the official provider of short breaks.

Starting from the Thomas Cook statue at Leicester train station, the team of 13 regional sales managers, led by Joanna Wild, Managing Director of Sales, and James Coughlan, Head of Sales for the North for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, walked the original route using the Grand Union Canal towpath, finishing in Loughborough.

The walkers raised £10,000 for the Thomas Cook Children's Charity as part of the travel retailer's UK-wide fundraising efforts ahead of the Olympics. Thomas Cook Children's Charity supports sick and disadvantaged children, including local causes in the Midlands such as Glenfield Hospital.

Graham Bignall, Thomas Cook's Regional Sales Manager for Leicester, said: "The team spirit was absolutely fantastic and a great team builder, with everyone commenting how nice it was to do something with strong links to Thomas Cook's roots. It's actually quite a long way - over half a marathon, so no doddle and we were glad to see the finish line come into sight, but any blisters are absolutely worth it to raise money for such a good cause, which will support children's causes across the UK as well as in Leicestershire."

About Thomas Cook UK & Ireland:

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland is the second largest leisure travel group in the UK with around 19,000 employees offering holidays worldwide to destinations such as Turkey ( http://www.thomascook.com/destinations/turkey/ ) and Spain ( http://www.thomascook.com/destinations/spain/ ). The company has a network of more than 800 high street stores, leading websites, and some of the world's favourite travel brands.

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland is part of Thomas Cook Group plc. For more information please visit http://www.thomascook.com/.

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