On July 2nd, I will be running my first full marathon (42.2km!)!

I am doing this to raise money for a project which has really inspired me and captured my heart this year - a colleague from my time working in South Africa, Claire Phutieagae-Top, has opened a school to better meet the needs of children with disabilities and learning barriers in the town of Vryburg, in the North-West Province. Previous options for parents of disabled children in Vryburg were to constantly struggle against barriers in a mainstream education system unable to meet their needs, or access specialist education at boarding schools, 300km away or more. To raise funds to open the school, Claire and her team completed a 300km walk to highlight this.

Since opening on February 1st, Tshiamelo Inclusive Academy now has 50 pupils, and has become a positive learning place, where children who were being let down by mainstream education are now being empowered, and given the chance to explore learning at their own pace and understanding. The impact of this opportunity will give these children the skills they need in order to be independent and contribute to their communities when they are older.

The money you donate (to see me run a stupidly long way!) will be used to buy educational resources for the pupils of Tshiamelo. In particular, the school needs funding for reading books, music and dance therapy, as well as (depending on how much is raised, if we dare to be ambitious) electronic resources such as tablet computers (which so many children in the UK/Australia have access to as standard to enhance their learning). For children with disabilities in particular, the use of technology is invaluable. A tablet, for example, can help a child communicate and access learning in ways which will enhance their engagement, provide programs which meet their specific needs, and accelerate learning.

Please consider donating to see me run for Tshiamelo Inclusive Academy. Thank you for your generosity!