On the 1st of May, I will be running a half marathon to raise money to go towards a new sensory room at Hollinwood Academy where I work — a specialist provision in Oldham for children and young people aged 4 to 19. The school supports pupils primarily with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), as well as those with EHCPs across all four main areas of SEND, including cognition and learning and sensory/physical needs.

This challenge feels especially significant to me because, this time last year, I couldn’t even run 200 metres. Since then, I have completely fallen in love with running, and although completing a half marathon will be a huge challenge, I am genuinely excited to take it on and push myself further than I ever thought possible.

I have been incredibly fortunate to work at the school since it first opened in 2015, where I began my journey as a teaching assistant. Over the years, I have grown both personally and professionally, and I am now proud to be a teacher there. During this time, I have witnessed first-hand the school’s development, dedication and unwavering commitment to supporting every child to reach their full potential. It has become the outstanding school it is today, and I feel incredibly proud to be part of such a passionate and inspiring community.

Taking on this half marathon is my way of giving something back to a school that means so much to me and to the amazing young people we support every day. Any support or donations will help enhance our sensory provision and create even more opportunities for our pupils to thrive.

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