More than 130 hospitality workers from across Cardiff completed the CDF 10K on Sunday 6 September, raising more than £13,000 for local children’s charity Dreams & Wishes.
The runners took part in the third annual Lab 22 Hospitality vs 10K Challenge, an initiative created to bring together people working across Cardiff’s bars, restaurants and hospitality businesses while supporting physical and mental wellbeing.
This year’s event was the largest to date, with 130 runners representing more than 30 venues and businesses across the city.
The challenge was established by Lab 22 owner Tani Hasa in 2024, when he purchased 30 race places and offered them to members of Cardiff’s hospitality community who might not otherwise have considered entering a 10K.
Demand saw participation increase to 62 runners during the first year, followed by 100 in 2025 and 130 in 2026.
Organisers say the initiative has developed beyond the annual race, with previous participants becoming regular runners, training together and building connections across Cardiff’s hospitality community.
Hasa said: “I am immensely proud of what we’ve achieved with this initiative and personal passion project.
“130 people from our hospitality community have completed the run and helped raise over £13,000 for Dreams & Wishes. It was a wonderful day and we are so grateful for everyone’s support.
“My ambition has always been to do something that is about ‘looking after the people who look after the people’, and this is perfect.
“The joy on everyone’s faces at the end of that race was priceless, and the money raised is absolutely amazing.”
The challenge was developed partly in response to the long and irregular working patterns common across hospitality, which can make participation in traditional sports clubs and social activities more difficult.
Over its three years, the initiative has encouraged people who had not previously run to take up the sport while providing opportunities for workers from different venues and roles to meet outside the workplace.
This year’s total exceeded the team’s original target of raising £10,000 from the 10K.
Funds will go to Cardiff-based Dreams & Wishes, which supports seriously ill children and their families.
The charity has a longstanding connection with the Lab 22 team through former Dreams & Wishes ambassador Jay Page, who originally encouraged Hasa to fundraise for the organisation.
Following Page’s death, the team has continued its support in his memory.
Kelly Reardon-Brown, Board Member at Dreams & Wishes, said: “We are overwhelmed and so very thankful for the continued support from Tani and all of the venues who ran and raised money for us in the Hospitality 10K.
“Jay was an ambassador for us, and I know how happy this would have made him knowing his friends and colleagues from all over in Cardiff were working together to reach such an amazing goal.
“This incredible initiative has raised nearly £40k for the charity in the past three years and continues to put smiles on faces of children and their families going through some very tough times.
“We are very proud to partner with all of them. We can’t say thank you enough.”
Following the race, Pasture Cardiff hosted all 130 runners for a post-run buffet and celebration donated by the restaurant.
Pasture has supported Hospitality vs 10K since its first year, while Asahi 0.0% also backed the 2026 initiative.
Participants represented businesses including Asador 44, Barbara’s, Be At One, Bonnie Rogues, The Botanist, Bran, Browns, Cosy Club, Curado, Dirty Gnocchi, Gaucho, Golf Fang, Gin & Juice, Glamorgan Cricket, Ivy Asia, Lab 22, Lowkey, Mad Dog, Mowgli, Nighthawks, NQ64 Arcade Bar, Parallel, Pasture, Picton & Co, Rum & Fizz, Security Cymru, Six by Nico, Sonder, The Cocktail Club, The Dead Canary, The Bear, Tonight Josephine and Vicino.
Hasa and the Lab 22 team now hope to develop the initiative further, with ambitions to take Hospitality vs 10K to other UK towns and cities.