Ms Scholes, who concluded her presidential term only days before the event, embraced the challenge as a novice runner. On 26 April, she completed the 26.2-mile course in just under six and a half hours, having already secured over £23,000 towards her individual £30,000 target.

Alongside her, experienced runner Mr Scobie of Consilium Chartered Accountants crossed the finish line in just over four hours. As a former beneficiary of the Foundation’s support, he has raised over £5,000 to date.

Sanjay Singh, the managing director of the ICAS Foundation, praised the duo for their grit and determination.

He said: “This is an astonishing achievement, and I pay tribute to Karen and Dean for their commitment to our mission to create stronger, more diverse future for the profession by opening door for talented young people from low-income backgrounds to flourish in accountancy and finance careers.

“Karen and Dean have spent months training, and preparing for Sunday’s race, showing the grit and determination that so many of our students show to overcome barriers and reach their goals.

“Hundreds of people have supported their efforts with donations, and I want to thank each and every one – from firms to family members, and from across the world. Your donations will directly support the next generation of talent we welcome to our programme this summer.”

In a LinkedIn post, Ms Scholes said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me over the past few months. Your encouragement, motivation, and belief in me is what kept me pushing through every tough training run. I genuinely couldn’t have done this without you.”

To support the pair’s fundraising, visit here for Ms Scholes, and visit here for Mr Scobie.