I am running Hastings Half Marathon next weekend to raise money to reward and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our year 11 students. The money raised will fund a variety of rewards for students to enjoy at their prom this summer.

I am not a runner, I prefer a good book and an episode of Eastenders. However, when a fellow colleague suggested running the Hastings Half as a way of teaching this year group about preparing to meet their goals and to also raise money for their rewards, I wanted to accept the challenge.

I chose to accept this particular challenge because this group of students have taught me to create new targets and to be resilient and a particular group of students have taught me that we can and we should keep going, even though it doesn't always feel possible. I want to do this for those students - to show them that I have learnt from their extraordinary actions and their strength.

This group of year 11s started the school when I started working in Hastings nearly 5 years ago and were the first students I taught here. They have worked so hard and deserve to have the best celebration to honour their resilience, hard work and achievements. Many of the students that I have already referenced here have been through some life-changing challenges since I have met them; they are an inspiration and deserve to celebrate and be celebrated. I am in awe of their determination and endeavour to continue to learn from their perseverance.

I am thinking of the Hastings half as my first challenge and I am running another (slightly sillier) half marathon in Brighton on the 11th May, just before their first GCSE - we must keep going until the end!

Please help me to raise money and keep myself and our wonderful year 11s motivated through the final stretch!

Thank you so much.