Dynamic duo take on fundraising mission

The Abbey Group’s very own ‘Dangerous Duo’ are preparing to swap the day job for running shoes, hiking boots and, in one case, a parachute as they embark on a series of fundraising challenges for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Lisa Cannings, Director at The Abbey Group, and Laura Salter, Claims & Client/Supplier Relationship Manager, have set themselves four challenges during the final months of 2026 in memory of their mums, who they have both sadly lost.

Close friends as well as colleagues, Lisa and Laura hope to mark birthday milestones by stepping firmly outside their comfort zones and raising vital funds for the BHF.

Laura gets the challenge underway on 13 September with the Basildon Half Marathon, before the duo join forces on 26 September to climb Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain.

Laura will then take on HYROX London on 6 December, before Lisa brings the fundraising mission – and 2026 – to a suitably dramatic conclusion with a skydive in Rottnest Island, Perth Australia on 30 December.

Lisa and Laura said: “We’re determined to prove that making our 40s and 50s years to remember can mean doing something completely outside our comfort zones while making a difference at the same time.

“There will be plenty of training, aching muscles, facing fears and pushing ourselves further than we thought possible – but knowing why we’re doing it will keep us going.

“And knowing the two of us, there will also be a lot of laughter along the way!”

The British Heart Foundation funds research into heart and circulatory diseases, helping to develop new treatments and potential cures. According to the fundraising pair, £24 could fund two hours of research by an early-career scientist.

For Lisa and Laura, however, the motivation behind every challenge remains deeply personal.

They added: “Every mile, every climb together and every burpee completed by Laura and – in Lisa’s case – every terrifying second falling through the sky will be for our mums.”

The pair will be sharing their training journey and progress as they count down to each challenge, with colleagues, friends and the wider industry invited to support their fundraising mission.

For more information and to support Lisa and Laura, visit their fundraising page: Lisa and Laura’s British Heart Foundation fundraiser