School charity run raises more than five times its target

The initial fundraising target was £200 but the school has since raised more than £1,000.

Miss Jasmin Taylor is the year 3 teacher and PE coordinator at the school and helped to organise the event.

She said: "With many of the fundraising events cancelled due to Covid-19 (including the GOSH charity ‘Race for the Children’ event) we felt that hosting our own fun run was more important now than ever as we understand the financial impact that the cancellation of these events has had on so many charities, including GOSH.

"The official Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH) event ‘Race for the Children’ gave us the option of 2.5km or 5km race. Due to the age range of the children and the space we had available, we decided to go for the 2.5km race which ended up being 15 laps of our school field down Rowsley Road, Meads, Eastbourne."

There are 217 children at the school and all classes took part. She says that 'the children have been so excited to take part in the charity run'. In advance, they have learnt about Great Ormond Street Hospital and have spent some time on their website.

She added: "They have been reading about the amazing things the charity does, gained a great understanding of that, and have learnt about some of the children whose lives have been changed thanks to the work of the charity and the hospital. They were so proud for the opportunity to contribute to the charity’s great efforts."

As for surpassing the initial fundraising target Jasmin said that 'never in their wildest dreams' did they think they would raise near as much money.

"We are so thankful and grateful to all those who have supported our fundraising event and we cannot thank the families and friends of St John’s School enough for their incredible generosity for such an amazing cause," she said.

"To the children who took part I would like to say a massive well done for their incredible achievement! They all put in 100 per cent and kept on smiling and laughing even when their legs started to tire. They remained positive and focused and all came away having felt they had achieved something spectacular, which they had indeed."

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stjohnsmeads

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