Swimming, cycling and running for Czech School without Borders

Every Saturday morning, my two children, Anaïs and Theo, head off to Czech School without Borders in London. For them it's school. For me it's much more than that.

I grew up in the Czech Republic, and when I became a parent here in the UK, one of my biggest worries was that my children would grow up disconnected from where I come from. I didn't want the language, the songs, the stories and the humour I grew up with to fade into something they'd only hear about. Thanks to this school, they won't. They can chat with their grandparents and the rest of my family back home in Czech, and they understand the jokes and the traditions. They feel that part of their identity belongs to them too. That's a gift I could never have given them on my own.

What many people don't realise is how little funding the school has. It's a charity, and it runs on the dedication of teachers who give up their Saturdays, week after week, for minimum wage, because they believe in what they're doing. Every pound raised helps keep those doors open for families like mine.

So I've set myself a challenge. I'm taking on Challenge Barcelona, a long-distance triathlon: a 1.9 km swim, 90 km on the bike, and a half marathon (21.1 km) to finish. I haven't been able to complete a distance like this since my children were born. Between work, family life and the school runs, finding the time and energy to train has been a real personal battle, and crossing that finish line will mean a huge amount to me.

If you can support the school with a donation of any size, you'll be helping children across London stay connected to their Czech roots, and you'll give me a big push through those last kilometres in Barcelona.

Děkuji moc — thank you so much!