Twenty-two staff members took part in the 15-mile hike around central London on Wednesday, 3 July 2025.
They had to spot some of the English capitals most famous landmarks on their journey.
Gary Murray, area manager for Kent and Surrey for Tesco and Home Clothing said: “We are such a close-knit team at Tesco, and we love to do things which bring us together and have a bit of fun.
“We fundraise for Charity every year, but we wanted to do something special in memory of our dear friend Peter Dunn.
“I met Pete, through work around twenty-two years ago and in turn I got to know his partner Gareth.
“We ended up going on holiday twice a year together and we would travel to Bridgend where they lived and vice versa.”
He continued: “In August 2024 we were all devastated to learn that Pete had suffered a heart attack whilst shopping.
“He was attended by the Welsh Ambulance Service and clinicians from Wales Air Ambulance. Pete was flown by helicopter to Morriston Hospital, but unfortunately, died a few hours later.”
Gary added: “It was such a shock for everyone, because in the months before he had been looking after his partner Gareth and nursing him back to health after he suffered a heart attack in the April.
“He was so thoughtful and always thinking of others.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership.
The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles. This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency critical care.
Gary said: “I know Peter’s partner Gareth is very grateful for the care that he received from all the medical teams involved. They did all they could.
“In the months that followed I spoke with him about doing something in memory of Pete as I knew a store that had done something for the Wales Air Ambulance previously.
“He was really moved that his Tesco colleagues were going to do something so meaningful.”
Once Dan Scott-Elder, area manager for Hertfordshire and Essex heard about the idea, he immediately volunteered to coordinate a fundraising event in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.
Dan admits ‘it took some organising’ pulling together twenty-two area managers from across the UK. Some travelled from Dublin and Cork, others from Edinburgh and Wales.
He said: “London became the easiest option as a meeting point for all of us, due to flights, rail travel etc. and that is how we decided on the Monopoly Walk.
“It was quite intense, none of us are athletes, we are all different ages and fitness abilities, but we managed to cover 15 miles in seven hours. I am very proud of us all for sticking the course.
“It was fantastic for team bonding too. Some people had never seen Big Ben up close before! To me it is something I am used to, you forget how iconic these places are when you live close by.
“I became the tour guide, or rather, ‘sheep herder’, I had to make sure everyone stuck together and did not stray or get left behind.”
The group started off at Old Kent Road and covered off every station and every street, finishing in Covent Garden. They stopped off at all the Tesco stores along the way to collect donations and refreshments.
Dan said: “We covered 38,000 steps so as you can imagine we were all very sore the next day. But feeling very proud and what we had achieved. We celebrated with a team meal at the end.”
He added: “When we were sat in the pub having a drink, we bumped into a lovely man who said, ‘please let me donate, I think it’s a brilliant cause’.
“It turned out his father had needed the Wales Air Ambulance the year before. So, it was amazing to connect with him at the end, and he just reaffirmed what we know, the service is doing an amazing job saving lives across Wales.”
The fundraiser raised over £3,000 through Just Giving and Gift Aid, and Tesco have given an extra 20% taking the total to £5,000 raised in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.
Gary added: “I called Gareth as soon as we finished the walk and told him how much we had raised he was delighted.
“He sponsored us £100 and said Pete would be proud that we’ve gone out and done this for such a brilliant charity.”
Kate Thomas, Regional Fundraising Manager for Wales Air Ambulance said: “It is always deeply moving to hear how our service has touched the lives of the loved ones of those we have attended, and this is a beautiful way to honour Peter’s memory.
“We would like to extend our thanks to team Tesco for bringing together so many colleagues for the London Monopoly Walk in memory of Peter Dunn and to Gareth for supporting this fundraiser.
“We rely on events like this to help us raise £11.2 million pounds each year to keep our helicopters in the sky and rapid response vehicles on the road.
“£5,000 is an incredible amount to raise and will others in their time of need.”
