Trips and educational visits are the highlight of all children's school memories. They give learning opportunities that go beyond what can be provided in the classroom. Unfortunately, the cost often limits the number of chances children have to visit the wonderful places we have around us. Parents find it hard to pay for trips given the cost of everything else at the moment; school budgets are stretched enough as it is. So that however willing teachers are to give these opportunities to children, funding gets in the way. And, as a result, it's the children who miss out.

As a parting gift to the children on my retirement, to say thank you for the joy and fulfilment they have provided me in my 19 years teaching at Ladybridge, I would like to help fund a trip for the whole school next year, similar to the ones we have been on recently such as the visit to Chester Zoo or the day at Martin Mere Wild Life Trust.

I am taking part in the Manchester Half Marathon and the Manchester 10K on Sunday 21st May and would be very grateful if you were to sponsor my run. All the money raised will be donated to Ladybridge Primary School for the specific purpose of funding a trip for the whole school to a place of their choosing; whatever they choose, it will be a great day out and a wonderful learning experience for the children.

The size of the donation doesn't matter; giving our pupils an opportunity they might not otherwise get is what matters. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL COMPANIES OR BUSINESSES WHO WOULD LIKE HELP WITH THE SPONSORSHIP, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO. The target of £1,000 is an underestimate of the cost of entrance and transport to a lot of venues; the more we can raise, the closer we will get to enabling the children to spend at least one day out of the classroom.

Thank you in anticipation of your support.