Bedales runners raise thousands for good causes
A Bedales School team of 65 runners who took part in the Great South Run in Southsea on 19/20 October has so far raised an impressive £8,100 for two charities.
Pupils, staff, parents, alumni and friends of the school joined forces to run in the Great South Run events over the weekend. The junior and adult 5 km races were held on Saturday and featured 44 Bedales runners; a further 21 runners competed in Sunday’s 10 mile race, which attracted over 20,000 competitors as one of the largest events in Europe’s running calendar, and boasts Mo Farah and Paula Radcliffe as former winners.
The youngest pupils in the team from Bedales Prep, Dunhurst were eight year-olds George Galgey and Ari Vouk who ran in the mini 1.5k event. Top performances included 16 year old Orlando Closs in the 5k race who finished in 18’49, and Sixth Form student Marcus Bugge who completed Sunday’s 10 mile race in an impressive 1’07’32. Other team members completed personal bests and distances they hadn’t run before the weekend.
Donations are being shared between two charities: the John Badley Foundation provides transformational opportunities for young people to benefit from a Bedales education through fully funded bursaries; and Fitzroy, a Petersfield based charity with a national reach, supports adults with learning disabilities. Its Love4Life programme is a friendship and dating project based in Fareham, and Bedales students volunteer at FitzRoy’s “On Track” day service in Petersfield and Rural Skills project in East Meon.
Marianne Radcliffe, Director of Marketing, Fundraising and IT at FitzRoy, said:
"We are so grateful for Bedales' tremendous support and help in fundraising for our vital Love4Life service. Love4Life is a place for people with learning disabilities and autism to have fun, make friends and even find love. Our members have said since using Love4Life they feel happier and less isolated - this would not be possible without incredible fundraisers like Bedales who keep the service going.”
Tanya Darlow, Head of Development, Bedales commented:
"We are delighted that the Bedales Great South Run team is supporting the John Badley Foundation alongside FitzRoy. The funds raised will help us offer fully funded bursaries to children who are able to join Bedales from difficult home or school situations. By taking on this challenge and inspiring support from friends and family, the Bedales runners are helping us create transformational opportunities for these children."
With support from the Country House Company and fundraising platform Pledgit, the team is encouraging further donations which can be made online at https://pledgit.net/bedalesgsr2019.
Great South Run | FitzRoy | John Badley Foundation | Country House Company | Pledgit (for online donations)
