In September 2020 we tragically lost the legend that was Dave Clark. The PE Department always saw Dave as the PE teacher many people will have known, and have waited for an opportunity to pay their respects as a department with a challenge the man himself would approve of.

We were hoping to do an onsite Race for Life event last year before the chaos of COVID hit and since then it's been on hold. We would like to raise money for a good cause but also for the department to enable us to afford to properly kit out the fitness room so it is an inspiring and inclusive environment for both our students and staff to make use of. There have been a number of changes made to date, but we just can't afford everything we require in order for it to take class of 30.

Following the tragic loss of Dave we felt quite strongly that we would like our fundraising efforts to go towards the Great North Air Ambulance (in memory of a truly legendary PE teacher) and combine it with our plans to improve this facility.

Here's the plan...

As Team Richmond School, we are going to attempt to walk, bike and run 8,000 miles (the area covered by the GNAA in square miles) throughout the month of March. We have asked both students and staff to 'pledge' a certain number of miles and will add a bit of friendly competition as we go.

We will offer students the opportunity to cover some of these miles during school PE lessons but many are choosing to challenge themselves further and complete more in their own time. With dwindling levels of motivation for regular exercise being reported in the media, observed in our students and experienced personally, we're hoping that this will give all of us a new incentive and drive to get moving again.