TEACHERS and parents from a primary school raised nearly £5,000 for a newly opened school in South Africa.
Staff from West Lodge Primary School in West End Lane, Pinner, joined their children’s mothers and fathers for the Reading Half Marathon in Reading, Berkshire, on Sunday, March 2, earning £4,200 in sponsorship for the FACE (Friends of Africa Child Education) charity.
Training for the race began back in October and a team of teachers and parents, known as the West Lodge Whippets, could regularly be seen pounding the streets of Pinner on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Headteacher Kim James, who took part in the run, said: “It was great to get the school community together, teachers and parents to run for such a good cause.
“It was difficult on the day, but we rose to the challenge and achieved it - at West Lodge we all have a growth mindset.”
It was one of a number of events the school has organised over the past year to raise money for FACE but specifically to support the Ekhaya Lothando School in Masiphumelele, a township in the coastal city of Cape Town.
The idea came from one of West Lodge Primary School’s teachers, Athena Douglas, who set up the school’s link with FACE and the Ekhaya Lothando School, which opened on February 21 and which West Lodge Primary School pupils Joshua and Julian Luiz were able to visit and attend on the day.
Nick Jenkins, from FACE, sent a message to the school after the opening to say: “Everyone at your school should be very proud of what they have helped to achieve.
“The new pre-school now has three classrooms, and an outside play area, a covered play area, and toilets, around the teacher accommodation and kitchen (vital as all the children receive a healthy balanced meal each day).”
The school was aiming to raise £5,000 for FACE by running the Reading Half Marathon and so far the total stands at £4,200. If you wish to sponsor them see www.justgiving.com/WestLodgeWhippets
