A TEAM of fitness fanatics from Solihull School raised £58,000 when they took on a 50km Easter walk.
The 25-strong team made up of pupils, parents, and staff, past and present from the school stepped out on the Ultra Challenge in aid of two charities, Assist RR UK and IMHO USA, that provide clean water wells for Sri Lanka’s poorest people.
The team, led by Mark Penney – the head of Solihull Prep School, set off from a very muddy Windsor Racecourse at 8.30am then headed through the Great Park, Windsor Castle, Runnymede and along the Thames Path before crossing the finish line 12 hours later.
Mark said: “Whilst the event was physically challenging, the camaraderie and positivity from Team Solihull was outstanding.
“Three of our Windsor Walkers completed the 25KM challenge, Kana Thuryrajah (Assist RR’s representation in Malaysia) completed another 25KM in Kuala Lumpur and 21 picked up their medal for the 50KM challenge.
“That’s a total of 1,150KM walked by Team Solihull, in one long day, to raise funds for those in great need across the North, East and Upcountry.”
IMHO USA said it would match up to $20,000 (around £16,000) raised by the group and Mark said this brought the total to more than £58,000 raised.
He added: “Our sincere and grateful thanks to all who contributed. Yet again the generosity of our school community and of the supporters of both charities has been extraordinary, it’s been an unforgettable experience for all involved.
“Many of Sri Lanka’s poorest people do not have access to clean, uncontaminated water supplies.
“The funds raised will allow us to build clean water wells, provide seed packages and training to generate sustainable food supplies, improve all round health and sanitation, and to keep children in school for longer. The positive outcomes will be life-changing for many.”
The Penney family and the Solihull School community have supported both charities over a number of years, raising funds for educational, medical and livelihood projects across the poorest parts of Sri Lanka.
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