Before covid came along I was about to take part in my first cycling challenge this summer - a fairly daunting 80 mile ride up and down many hills from London to Hastings. It was also going to be Ark's first challenge fundraising event, which we were really excited to put on.

For obvious reasons we have had to cancel that event, but not to be deterred, I've decided to ride the distance anyway on the 12th of July as part of Ark's Sports Day Challenge. I will be doing 120km around where I live  (at the moment) which happens to be the very lovely but also extremely hilly Cotswolds. Route map is below. 

The money I'm raising will go to support Ark School's Coronavirus Appeal - supporting more than 27,000 students across our network of 37 schools.

Homes are less equal than schools. Students from low income households are impacted much more significantly; there is a large inequity to access to computers and having a proper learning space to study. Therefore we expect there to a large variance in how much students have been able to learn since schools have been closed. This cohort risks losing all their hard earned progress in their exams next year, unfairly affecting their choices for their future. This crisis has affected everyone in its own way. For some children whose families have suffered illness or financial distress, there will be a high need for wellbeing support when they return to school. 

Our schools are working hard to support these children and their families - I'm raising money to help.

Any donation you make will provide support in three areas:

1. Access to technology 
2. Academic programmes to close the increased learning gap as a result of the school closures
3. Wellbeing and mental health support for students and staff when schools re-open