My late dad remains a total inspiration to me and, along with my incredible mum, gave me the foundation of who I am today. But my dad didn't always have it easy - he walked an hour across town and back every day to get to school and he wore out the only pair of shoes he had to do it. It was due to a bursary that he was able to continue his education and achieve his potential. I want to fundraise for the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund (more detail below) because it gives children the chance that my dad was given and that's important to me because that chance echoes down the generations. My dad loved the outdoors and these mountains in particular, so what better way to fundraise than running a marathon in the mountains that he loved so much.

Highfield School is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment. Through our successful Centenary Bursaries Fund, we offer life-changing educational opportunities to deserving children from families whose financial situation makes a private school education unreachable.

Since 2007, the Fund has transformed the lives of 23 children, seven of whom are currently thriving in our school community today. These children have been provided with exceptional academic and pastoral support, setting them on a path to success.

The key to achieving our goal of transforming children’s lives, is attracting applications from families across the socio-economic spectrum. To accomplish this, we partner with various organisations and charities, locally and nationally, that support children from disadvantaged backgrounds. These partnerships help us identify children who would benefit most from a Highfield education. Through a robust selection process, bursaries are awarded to children that we believe will gain the most benefit from attending Highfield and will help them to reach their full potential.

Our focus on supporting children from a young age is deliberate. Research shows that early intervention is crucial for all children to develop a strong academic foundation and thrive in demanding environments. This prepares them not only for success at Highfield but also for future opportunities in top secondary schools, universities and beyond.