Colleagues from Ron Dearing UTC have raised over £3,570 and counting for two charities after taking on the Hull 10k.
Principal Sarah Pashley and other members of the leadership team, Chris Berry, Matt Hornby, Matt Liddle and Harry Banks took part in the run in aid of two charities which are close to the hearts of our school community – Freddie’s Friends and Epilepsy Research Institute UK.
The team, named the Ron Dearing Runners, hit the streets of Hull on Sunday, June 8th for the annual race which is organised by the UK’s largest not-for-profit events company, Jane Tomlinson’s Run for All.
Colleagues at the UTC selected the two charities to benefit from the fundraising efforts due to the close connection they have with two of the school’s colleagues.
Freddie’s Friends supports disabled and very sick children in the local area by providing specialist equipment, toys, treatment and holidays to make their and their family’s lives a little easier.
The charity was launched by Ron Dearing’s KS4 Pastoral Mentor, Rachel Appleyard, and her husband in memory of their son Freddie who passed away from a rare brain disease, aged 2.
Among the charity’s many support activities, the team also provides advice and support to families, provides representatives to speak at events, and arranges social get togethers such as a ‘Freddie Bear’s picnic’ and Christmas parties for the children, their siblings and families.
Since Freddie passed away the charity has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in his memory and every penny raised goes straight to funding more activities.
KS4 Pastoral Mentor and founder of Freddie’s Friends, Rachel Appleyard: “We at Freddie’s Friends are so proud and thankful to the staff at Ron Dearing who took on the Hull 10K for us. Your kindness, effort, and support mean so much—not just to us, but to the families we help.
“Thank you to Sarah, Chris, Matt L, Matt H, and Harry, who aren’t just colleagues, but friends as well. Ron Dearing has taken Freddie’s Friends into their hearts since I started there in 2017, raising funds and awareness in many different ways.
“It’s a real privilege to work alongside such generous and kind people who are willing to support me and my charity, in memory of Freddie— it means the world to me. Thank you also to the wonderful parents, staff, employer partners, and others for your generous donations. We are very grateful.”
The second charity benefitting from the fundraiser is Epilepsy Research Institute UK, a non-profit organisation on a mission is to radically advance research into the causes, prevention and treatment of epilepsy and its associated conditions.
The team chose this as their second charity in support of Ron Dearing’s Lead Practitioner for Literacy, Lucy Thompson. Two of Lucy’s children have epilepsy and her daughter, Storey, has complex needs including uncontrolled Lennox-Gastaut.
By supporting Epilepsy Research Institute UK the team hopes that one day a cure can be found for this life-altering disease.
Lead Practitioner for Literacy, Lucy Thompson said: “My work friends and colleagues have been through all the ups and downs of Storey’s journey with me over the last six years, including long hospital stays and many nights on the High Dependency Unit due to prolonged and life-threatening seizures. Having their continued support means more than my family and I can explain.”
There is still time to donate to the school’s fundraiser here: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/8103/the-ron-dearing-runners/