Alarm clocks are set to ‘early’ as a team from education prepares to defend its title in a charity relay race with a difference.
‘Team Ed’ is tackling Race the Sun, the Children’s Centre’s 100-mile coastal footpath challenge, for the third year.
Teams start on Peel Promenade at sunrise on Saturday, 5.08am, and must complete the Raad ny Foillan by sunset, 9.22pm.
Six of Team Ed 2013 – Chris Kirk, who teaches at Foxdale School, Rob Sellors, headteacher of Cronk-y-Berry Primary, Adrian Shorthouse, head of Scoill Vallajeelt, Rachel Holden, manager of the special needs unit at Ashley Hill, Tom Williams, head of Year 8 at Castle Rushen High, and John Swindlehurst, who works at the Department of Education and Children’s head office – were in the team that beat 21 others to take the trophy last year, finishing half an hour clear of second place in 13 hours, 18 minutes and 1 second.
Making up the team are Lisa Dunwell, a senior Education Support Officer at Auldyn Infants, her husband John, a prison officer, John Barker, head of science at Queen Elizabeth II High, and Carole Laporte, a languages teacher at St Ninian’s High.
Chris, who organises education’s entry, said: ‘The team continues to be a great mix of die-hard racers, first-timers and come along for the riders, which, to me, is what the event is all about. Winning last year was a great bonus, but with a different mix, 10 runners and a hundred miles of coastal footpath to contend with, getting round in one piece is the top priority.
‘There is some tough competition this year, with talk of the course record of 11 hours, 37 minutes and 50 seconds being under threat, but Team Ed will do its third lap of the Island with its head held high flying the education flag.’
Described as ‘not for the faint-hearted’, the event, sponsored by the Mann Made Group, is in its sixth year. Teams pay ?300 to enter. The event has so far raised ?40,000 for the Children’s Centre’s charitable projects. Team Ed finished fifth at its first attempt.
Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children, will be at the start and finish to see off and welcome back Team Ed. He said: ‘We’ve got some very accomplished athletes in education and I hope we can give all the other teams taking part in this worthy event a run for their money.’
Photo - Mark Eastham (left), Adventure Events Co-ordinator with the Children’s Centre, presenting the Race the Sun trophy for 2012 to Chris Kirk and the pupils of Foxdale Primary.
