A TEAM of employees from the Department of Education and Children will be up with the lark to take part in a charity run which races the sun.
The 10 strong team will make up Team Ed in The Children's Centre's Race the Sun event which takes place next Saturday, May 14.
Starting on Peel Promenade at 5am the team members will take turns to tackle the Island's Raad ny Foillan coastal footpath, aiming to arrive back in Peel by sunset.
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.
Between them they are aiming to cover a distance of 100 miles. All money raised from the event will support vulnerable children and young people in the Isle of Man through the Mobex project.
Chris said: "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!"
Team Ed must raise at least £300 to cover the entry fee – but hope to raise a lot more.
Chris continued: "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.
Education and Children Minister Eddie Teare MHK said: "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."
