Oundle Teachers Race Cross-Country for Charity

Published on isbi School News dated Wednesday 14th of May 2014

Thirty-eight Oundle Schoolteachers joined the recent School Cross Country race and helped to raise £882.48 for Parkinson's UK.

The event was an Oundle Charity Venture organised by three pupils, Thomas Bailey (16), Katie Vickerstaff (17) and Annabelle Lee (16). The pupils spent months organising the fundraising and the logistics, although it did not take long to sign up a good line-up of runners from among the staff, who all stepped forward without much cajoling.

Special mention must go to the race winner and Classics teacher, Mr Tim Morrison who ran in a full suit and trainers, and afterwards did not seem in the least bit tired. Mr Alex Brighton, Mr Andrew Mansergh, Mr Robin Banerjee, Mr Cris Symes and Mr Huw Roberts all ran in full army kit carrying an incredibly heavy stretcher laden with a donations bucket.

The best dressed runner award went to Dr Nicola Mola and Mr Jeremy Oddie, who ran in a Luigi costume and a SpongeBob SquarePants onesie respectively.

The 3 pupil organisers, commented, 'We chose the charity Parkinson's UK as it was close to home with members of our group and we were regularly in contact with the charity throughout the process. Parkinsons' UK is a charity that helps raise money for research into Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological condition that affects about 127,000 people in the UK. Every teacher had their own bucket for pupils to sponsor them and donations came rolling in. A massive thank you to all who helped and took part helping us to raise money for a fantastic cause.'