Welcome to the Royal Russell School Vanguard Challenge fundraising page!

Thank you for becoming part of our Vanguard Challenge 2023. Your donation will play such a key part in what we are trying to achieve. The Vanguard Challenge 2023 gives a chance for all of us to work together to give our young people the opportunity to do something really amazing for others.

What is the Vanguard Challenge?

The Vanguard Challenge is Royal Russell’s whole-school charity event, which aims to raise money and awareness for 6 key charities under the umbrella of mental health and well-being. 10 years after the original Vanguard Challenge, we are building on the success of our previous charity events, bringing our community together to work towards our shared goal of helping others. 

What is the Vanguard Way and how will it challenge us?  

The Vanguard Way is a 66-mile path from East Croydon to Newhaven, part of which runs around the perimeter of the school site. Over the weekend of the 23rd -25th June, groups of the school community are running or walking a range of distances, as well as participating in associated challenges. Some pupils and teachers will complete the course in a 3-day hike, camping on route. Other members of the community will join for the final day, to complete a 17-mile hike, while some of us will still be challenging ourselves with a 6 mile walk back to Royal Russell. 

For runners, there’s a 5k and a half-marathon challenge. Supported by former teachers and current colleagues, one intrepid member of staff will be running the entire distance in one go! 

Your sponsorship and encouragement will mean so much as we train and complete these physical tests of our commitment and endurance. 

The Vanguard Challenge will culminate in a Grand Finale BBQ on site at Royal Russell School, with further exciting activities and tests of our nerve and strength, like abseiling from our iconic Chapel tower.

Keep an eye out for all the other events before that date! Every penny you donate will spur us on in those moments of exhaustion!

In previous events, we were so grateful for the final sums raised for our individual charities. This time, your generosity to this fundraising account will see all donations split equally between six charities, chosen by our students and staff to reflect our belief in kindness. good mental health and support of others. Our target amount this time reflects that challenging Vanguard '66' distance theme. Any money donated and any awareness created by sharing our story, along with your support and encouraging comments, will be a truly appreciated gift.

Our chosen charities are Papyrus, Prevention of Young Suicide, Reedham Children's Trust, transforming the lives of vulnerable children in Croydon, Demelza, Guide Dogs and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

We are also fundraising in the name of Nick Smith, an Old Russellian, who joined our senior school in September 2000 at the age of eleven. After leaving school to go to college, Nick continued to have an active involvement with RRS through the CCF and security work under the leadership of Colin Leggatt. Sadly, Nick lost his battle with cancer in June, and we held a celebration of his life in the Great Hall in July.

Nick worked at The Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre, a charitable organisation where he originally started volunteering to make a difference to the lives of young people and foster in them a love for the outdoors. Eventually he took on a permanent role becoming the deputy centre manager. Royal Russell School has a link with Frylands Wood as the CCF and the junior school have both used the centre’s facilities.

Our wish is to make a permanent memorial to Nick. As Nick enjoyed climbing, we have decided on a climbing wall named in Nick’s memory, which would be available to scout groups, schools, and youth groups.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and please, join us on our journey….