Staying active in lockdown

Following the success of Bedales’ Syria to Steep lockdown fundraiser last year, which saw over 200 members of the Bedales community travel 4,066 kilometres in just five days in aid of the Rural Refugee Network and John Badley Foundation, pupils at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst have been set a fresh challenge – to race over 5,000 miles from London to Tokyo.

Inspired by the 2021 Olympics which were due to take place in Tokyo later this year, Dunhurst’s Head of Sport and PE Will Bray has called on pupils to work together in their respective Houses to race the 5,948 miles from London to Tokyo in a bid to keep the school moving during lockdown.

Every time a pupil completes some form of exercise – whether they choose to run, walk, cycle or even swim – they report the distance they have achieved to Dunhurst’s PE department and their efforts are added to their House’s running total. The challenge has also been extended to other members of the school community, with parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents and staff members being assigned a House and asked to report their own distances.

The initiative is just part of Dunhurst’s drive to keep pupils active during lockdown. As well as the Race to Tokyo, pupils can take part in a range of engaging activities – such as live workouts and inter-school challenge tournaments – during their online PE lessons that can be completed individually, with a family member or with a friend on Microsoft Teams.

Will Bray said: “With another lockdown upon us, once again we’re not commuting to school, moving around the school site or running around with friends at break time. While we’re missing out on our usual levels of physical activity and social interaction, it’s more important than ever for us to find ways to maintain these. Our online programme has been designed to keep Dunhurstians active and it’s fantastic to see such positive levels of participation already.”

Head of Dunhurst Colin Baty added: “It is such a super idea to keep movement as a priority at this time. I know the House system at Dunhurst is going strong and even my dog Lola and I have clocked up over 20 miles around the local area over the last few weekends. We are so proud of how the school community are embracing the challenge. Go Dunhurst!"

Follow Dunhurst's progress in The Race to Tokyo on Twitter here.