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On the 13^th February at four o’clock in the afternoon 75 Hethersett High School students will be embarking on a 24 hour endurance challenge to raise money for the local charity EACH (East Anglian Children’s Hospice). During the course of the day they will be attempting to run 500 kilometres, and are hoping to raise lots of money for their chosen charity. The event will involve Year 10 and 11 students, as well as several members of staff, and other members of the school community are being encouraged to come along and lend their support! The event itself will be started in style by several local sporting heroes; John Thaxton, Mick Gault, Craig Flemming and Paul Evans. They will also be present during the afternoon of the event, from midday onwards, to do motivational talks and workshops with the runners. Helping our sporting heroes begin the challenge will be the two pairs of students who raise the most money for our nominated charity.

There will be a circuit laid out in the Sports Hall that students will run around, and regular direction changes will be made to ensure there is less chance of injury. There will be refreshments available and entertainment for those participants not running. Throughout the event we will be keeping the runners up to date with how far we have travelled and how much time there is to go.

At any time during the 24 hours there will be a minimum of one pair of students running. The students have been split into three shifts for the duration of the challenge. The first, from four o’clock to eleven o’clock, will be run by Year 10 students. The second shift is the overnight run, which will be completed by Year 11 students from eleven until eight in the morning. The final shift is open to all students and finishes at four o’clock on Saturday 14^th February.

This event has generated a huge amount of excitement within the school. Samantha Ambrose, one student running said “it’s a little daunting as we want to do really well and raise loads of money for charity”. Matt Allen, a Year 11 runner said, “I’m really excited at the prospect of our school community coming together to form a team determined to achieve the target of 500 kilometres.” There is a real feeling of anticipation across the whole school including in the staff community. Mrs Rosemary Allen, Headteacher, said “This ‘Hethersett 500’ event is special in so many ways as it involves sport and active leisure, cooperation and team work and determination and staying power. We are so pleased that the Sporting Ambassadors have chosen to make this a flagship event for their scheme; their presence will make a big difference to the students.

Above all the participation of so many young people indicates their spirit of enterprise and care for others. I wish them all well and hope their stamina holds out.”

As a school community we pride ourselves on our commitment to supporting local good causes in ways that also benefit our students. In this case we feel that we have found the perfect mix, and we look forward to a great event for everyone.

Contact details:

Simon Fox Mark Shepstone

Assistant Headteacher Event Organiser

Hethersett High School & Science College

Queens Road

Hethersett

NR9 3DB

01603 810924

sfox1@purple.esinet.org.uk mshepstone1@yellow.esinet.org.uk

Additional sources of information:

www.hethersetthigh.norfolk.sch.uk - School website with details of event