Having toyed with the idea of running a half marathon for more years than I’d like to admit, I am excited to finally take on the challenge of the Royal Parks Half Marathon – my first! And for what better cause than to support the Sevenoaks School Foundation in widening access to bursary places.

I have taught at Sevenoaks School for 24 years and during this time have witnessed the number of bursary places steadily increase. I have seen first-hand, both in and out the classroom, the opportunities that have opened up for these young people and how much they have given back and enriched school life. A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion continues to be at the heart of our culture and community. Significantly increasing our bursary provision as we approach our 600th anniversary in 2032 is something I am proud to support.

The IB encourages young people to take risks, and in this I have learnt a lot from my students and tutees who embrace the challenge to the full. For me the half marathon is not about achieving a PB, simply the challenge of running a distance I have never done before. My personal goal is to celebrate physical and mental well-being as I grow older. In the spirit of the IB Learner Profile, I hope you will take a risk and have faith in me to reach the finish line at 13.1 miles.

Thank you so much for supporting my journey to a half marathon!