A 10-strong team of early-risers from education will be up with the lark to tackle a 100-mile charity run.
Accomplished runners, those with some miles under their belts and novices will make up ‘Team Ed’ for the Children’s Centre’s Race the Sun.
Starting on Peel Promenade at sunrise (5am) on Sunday 14th May, team members will take turns to tackle the Raad ny Foillan, the coastal footpath, arriving back in Peel by sunset.
The event, sponsored by the Mann Made Group, is in its fourth year and organisers hope to add ?10,000 to the ?20,000 it has already raised in support of vulnerable young people using the Mobex project.
Rob Sellors, Headteacher of Cronk-y-Berry Primary School, Judith Quane, administrator at Laxey Primary School, Tom Williams and Campbell Guy, teachers at Castle Rushen High School, Rachel Holden, a teacher at Scoill Vallajeelt, and Chris Kirk, a teacher at Michael Primary School, will be joined by Robert Quane, Tom Kirkman and Richard Hill, partners of Department of Education and Children staff, and Matthew McSevney, whose partner works for the Children’s Centre.
Chris explained: ‘Rob is an accomplished fell and marathon runner, some of us are good, keen steady runners with a number of races under our belts and some are using the run as an excuse to get more seriously into their running and this is their first event.
‘Why are we doing it? We all probably have our own reasons, but there is something satisfying about pulling together 10 people, most of whom had never met until last month, to race on a 100-mile circuit of the Island against the sun.
‘The Island is a beautiful place and the coastline is stunning, so I can't think of a better way of spending a few hours than running along a section of coastal path.
‘It also demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness – two of the six Rs we demand of our young people in schools via our curriculum. Let’s lead from the front!’
The team must raise at least the ?300 entry fee but hopes to hand over a lot more.
‘It is a great opportunity to support a worthy local charity. Most of the young people Mobex works with will have been through our classrooms at some point, so it's good to enhance the link with this kind of event,’ Chris said.
Eddie Teare MHK, Minister for Education and Children and a keen runner, took part in the first Race the Sun, completing the leg between Kirk Michael and Smeale.
He said Team Ed certainly wasn’t named after him.
‘It’s tough running along the beach – and even tougher if the tide is in and the sand is soft. I wish the members of Team Ed all the best for this event, which is in a very good cause,’ the Minister said.
- Ends -
Tuesday 3rd, May 2011 10:58pm.
