You may have seen the communications with regard to the I-Motion fund raising initiative to pay for the teachers' salaries at the Prince’s Mead Sister School in Inungur, India.

 Year 1 thought that it would be great idea to do something as a year group to support our friends in Inungur.

 

We are going to meet at St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester on Saturday 15th March for a walk (and possibly a run up the steps for those that are able).

 

For many years now Prince’s Mead has had a strong association with a school based in Inungur, Tamil Nadu in India – the BLESS (Beacon Literacy Education Service Society) Kindergarten and Primary School.  This association has served the mutual purpose of raising funds by Prince’s Mead to support the Inungur School, as well as raising awareness of a different culture and the needs of that small community within Prince’s Mead. 

 We have  helped with the purchase of a new minibus, built an outdoor classroom, planted trees and this Christmas we paid for the school community to have a special festive meal.  However in recent years we have come to recognise that having good facilities and resources count for nothing without teachers, so we are now committed to paying the salaries of five teachers each year in this small, rural school. 

 A challenge has been issued to all members of our Prince’s Mead community to join us in a special event to support and raise funds for the Inungur School – which we are calling I-Motion for Inungur.  The challenge is this:  there are 11,739 kilometres between Winchester and Inungur, and we would like to cover this distance as a community and raise £1 for every kilometre covered.  The proposal is that the distance is covered through sporting activities undertaken by families or individuals between the launch of the event on Monday 13 January 2014 and by close of day on Sunday 2 March 2014.  Examples of sporting activities include walking, running, cycling, canoeing, horse riding, skiing etc.  Individuals or families could do this on their own, or join up for group walks, cycles etc. 

 All those taking part are being asked to seek the support of friends and family members for all the distances they plan to cover, matching £1 for each kilometre that each individual covers, through donations made to the I-Motion for Inungur Justgiving site.  These funds will contribute to the costs of the teaching staff and general support and administration of the Inungur School.

 Each week the travel log of our progress will be updated and shared with the school community, progress will be tracked visibly on a map, experiences will be shared through the photographs which have been received, funds raised will be monitored via the Justgiving site, and we will be encouraging and supporting one another to do more!  The final result of all our activities will be communicated at the PMA Quiz Night which is being held on Friday 7 March 2014 in aid of the Inungur School.

 This is our opportunity to make a difference to the lives of our friends in Inungur, whilst also getting fit and enjoying a community activity.  Thank you for your kind support.

 Mel Renwick and Sue Fenton

Joint Chairmen of the Prince’s Mead Association