'Two million steps? Now let's go for seven million!' Kenilworth primary school is making strides with another big fundraising challenge

A primary school in Kenilworth has been taking on virtual walking challenges to help raise money for a 'special celebration'.

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Thorns Infant School in Blackthorn Road organised a sponsored virtual walk to cover the distance from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.

The challenge, which meant racking up more than two millions steps, aimed to encourage pupils and their families to get out and enjoy exercise and fresh air.

The PTA organised the challenge, which they completed over Easter, to help raise funds to help put on a celebration for the children in the summer term to 'try and help create some wonderful memories to try and make up for all the memories they’ve missed creating with their friends over the past 12 months'.

Now they have set a new walking challenge - a new walk around 'coastal Britain' - which will mean walking more than seven million steps.

They started off with a target of raising £1,000, which they have now reached but they are hoping to continue raising more.

As well as the walk the PTA have also organised various other ways ways to raise money in the past few months.

Rachael Jenkinson, chair of the PTA, said: "As is the case for most charities, raising funds has become even more challenging during the pandemic so we’ve been looking at more innovative (and Covid secure) ways to do this.

"Alongside Christmas cookie decorating kits (in partnership with Leamington business – Top Nosh), a virtual raffle and regular fundraising via Easy Fundraising, Amazon Smile and Your School Lottery, we came up with the idea to combine fundraising with trying to encourage children and their families to get outside in the fresh air and take some exercise.

"With the help of the World Walking platform, we started a virtual walk from Land’s End to John O’ Groats which we started on March 5 with a view of completing it by the end of April.

"Amazingly, we reached John O’ Groats on Easter Sunday (2,299,172 steps) and have now started a new walk around Coastal Britain (a more challenging 7,063,080)."

Mr Andrew Davies, assistant headteacher said: “It’s been a difficult year with the majority of events and trips cancelled so we will be hosting a day of fun, excitement and celebration in the summer term to help create some magical memories for all of the children at Thorns.

"Our PTA organised the challenge of walking over two million steps, from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, to help raise money for our special event.

"Through everybody’s hard work we have been able to complete the distance and in fact we’ve even had time to get started on a second walk.

"A huge thank you for all the generous donations we have received to help us reach our fundraising total.

"We can’t wait to put it to good use and put some huge smiles on back on everyone’s faces.”

Rachael added: “A virtual walk to raise funds for the school was unchartered territory but we’re delighted with the level of support and engagement we’ve had from our parents and children and have raised a fantastic amount to support the school with this special event."

To donate go to: https://worldwalking.org/fundraising/gmh6k