Six members of staff from Gorse Hill Primary School have completed the Swindon Half Marathon after months of training, raising more than £1,000 for local domestic abuse charity Society Without Abuse (SWA).
Louise Evans, Millie Hutchinson, Brandon Ricketts, Teri Pettett and Andy Williams, together with Principal Candida Hutchinson, took on the 13.1-mile course, finishing in times between two and three hours.
Three of the group had never run before, while the other two had never tackled a distance as long as a half marathon.
They were supported along the route by colleagues and pupils, who turned out to cheer them on as they completed the challenge.
Louise Evans said the event had been a significant achievement for the team, as well as an opportunity to support an organisation already closely connected with the school.
“As a team, we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved together,” she said. “Three of us had never run before and the other two had never run this far, so training together and then completing the Swindon Half has been a real achievement.”
She said the challenge also helped the teachers demonstrate the school’s values while encouraging pupils to think about healthy relationships, community involvement and helping others.
Gorse Hill Primary is a SWA HOPE School, having completed the charity’s HOPE Award. The programme gives teachers and school staff training to help identify and support children who may be at risk of domestic abuse.
The programme also provides pupils with lessons about healthy relationships and creates a point of support for children and families who may be experiencing domestic abuse within the school community.
Emma Maclennan, Children and Families Manager at SWA, said the school’s fundraising efforts would help the charity continue its work supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
“We are so proud of Gorse Hill Primary School for taking on such a massive challenge and their efforts will make an amazing difference in helping us continue our work supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse,” she said.
The school team has now raised more than £1,000 for SWA, combining a personal fitness challenge with a wider message about healthy relationships and supporting the local community.
To find out more about Society Without Abuse and the HOPE Award, visit societywithoutabuse.org.uk.
