As part of their year group fundraising initiative, Year 8 set out on an impressive challenge to raise money for MNDA, the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Their aim was to cover 777km in a 24-hour period, with the goal of raising £7777 - the number 7s acknowledging the shirt number of the Rugby League player, Rob Burrow CBE, patron of the charity. They also challenged the rest of the School to race them to be the first to reach the 777km target.

The students’ determination meant that they managed to cover the target  distance with time to spare and so we recalibrated the distance several times during the challenge and increased the target distance to an incredible 1,777 kilometres – this was broken through with about an hour still to go!

We welcomed Majid Hafezparast, Professor of Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, to start the race by cutting the orange ribbon and there was also a representative from MNDA at the event.

The whole School helped keep the race going to ensure there was someone on the track throughout the 24 hours, and Boarders joined in on Friday evening and Saturday morning to give a helping hand. Without a doubt, the most credit must go to the sixty-five Year 8s, who slept on crash mats in C-Hall, walking in waves through the night.

The weather was on our side, and after a spot or two of rain early on, we  were treated to clear skies for the rest of the challenge. The Year 8 team achieved a final total of 1,880 km, while the rest of the School clocked 1,199 – an overall total of 3,079 km covered! In addition, they smashed the fundraising target and raised an outstanding £9,812 including GiftAid.

Well done to all involved in this community event, from the students to the Grounds and Estates teams and Parents to members of staff, it really was a collective effort.