A PARENT is running 225km in a month to raise money to fund specialist support for pupils’ mental health at a Downend infant school.
Sarah Davis picked the target to represent one kilometre for each of the pupils at Christ Church Infant School in Christchurch Avenue.
She started the challenge at the start of March, aiming to complete a 10km run on most days of the week before finishing with a run alongside pupils, staff and families at the Page Park parkrun on Sunday, March 29.
Sarah has two children at the school, Thomas in Year 1 and Summer in Reception.
She said: “I am a medic in the Royal Navy, so have a base level of fitness – however I don’t tend to get up and run 10km every day, so this is definitely a challenge!
“Both of my children have required extra support from the school, who are incredible.
“I wanted to help the head teacher Anna Martin by removing some of the financial constraints, specifically in support of the mental health and well-being of the children.
“I have seen first-hand the care, determination, and compassion Mrs Martin and the team all bring to the school community. They are constantly finding ways to overcome challenges and stretch limited resources, always with the children’s well-being at the centre of every decision.
“They work tirelessly to make sure no child is left behind, often changing the plan for a whole day to make sure no child is left out.”
Sarah, of Staple Hill, has worked out a regular route near her home which she has been taking on during her lunch hour and fitness time allocated as part of her duties.
She said: “I’m just running and hoping everyone backs me with donations.”
Mrs Martin said the school planned to use the funds raised by Sarah’s challenge to fund one of the teaching assistants to become a ‘thrive practitioner’, a specialist role supporting children’s social and emotional development to improve attendance, behaviour and well-being.
She said: “Levels of anxiety seem to be rising in children, with reports of emotionally-based school avoidance starting in junior schools.
“We would really like to run sessions where children can check in if they have anxiety about something school-related. It would really help, particularly for children moving up to the juniors.”
Sarah had raised £990 as the Voice went to print and has a target of £1,500 for the challenge. Donations can be made via her online fundraising page at tinyurl.com/bda7z9kb.