On Wednesday 19th March a mixture of students, parents, teachers and a governor arrived bleary eyed at Harrow Way School for 7.45 am to run a mile for the Sport Relief charity. 
Luckily, the sun shone on the group, very rare this last couple of weeks, although it was very cold. The students did not have to find sponsorship to raise money, but participants had to buy a pair of Sport Relief socks to run in as their contribution towards the charity. The group is also in training to take part in the school’s Ironman-athon Team Challenge in June, which will be the second year running that Harrow Way School has coordinated this event.
The Ironman Challenge is the brain child of governor, Paula Deverill, who wanted to lose weight and therefore set herself a personal challenge. Encouraged by Ironman, Pete Lewis, Paula invited students who may either have an interest in keeping fit or losing weight to join her, recruiting Miss Escritt from the PE department, to help train the students two mornings a week before school on Wednesdays and Fridays, starting at 7.45 am and finishing at 8.20 am.Â
As part of their training the students have been set personal challenges to meet by each half term along the way. These are usually based on running (without stopping) for a certain amount of time. The aim to run the Sports Relief mile was built into their individual target as part of their training leading up to the Ironman Challenge. The group ran a distance of either 1 or 2 miles each and made it look a breeze. It was a very successful morning and was so different compared with how they looked back in September, when running for a period of time was quite difficult for some.
Due to the carefully built up programme, it has been fantastic to watch the students improve their personal fitness levels, change shape and enjoy physical activity. It is a credit to the students that they turn up every week before school to train and care about their personal fitness (and the parents too!)
The students will be looking for sponsorship in June for the Ironman Challenge and monies raised will be donated to the local charity, Testway Transform and the school.
The following students are to be congratulated for running 1 mile:
Jess Allmark, Steph Boulton, Claire Breen, Ben Cox, Tom Dickinson, Phillipa Duke, Lynsey Grover, Holly Hall, Grace Howells, Ella Howells, Matthew Jenkins, Zoe Lungley, Charl Malan, Christian McGregor, Marc Taylor, Paige Thompson, Georgia Williams, Chelsea Wilson, Megan Young and Amelia Carter.
These students bit the bullet and went on to complete 2 miles:
Daniel Balcer, Sophie Cox, Lydia Moulding, Kayleigh Parker, Rebecca Parker, Ellie Roche and Connor Wilson.
Paula Deverill and her son, Phil, Kim Sussex, Tanya Boulton, Dawn Marchment, Ed Allmark, Caroline Lowing and Helen Vanderplank were the participating adults. The event was adjudicated by Miss Escritt and Pete Lewis.