Prep pupil takes part in transatlantic fundraiser

In March, Year 6 pupil Naomi took part in a physically demanding race, running or walking from Cambridge, UK to Cambridge, Massachusetts to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The virtual fundraiser, ‘The Run Everyone Team’ had 107 teams take part from all over the UK and 11 other countries, who had to individually run and walk as many kilometres as they could for the duration of the month, uploading evidence as they went along.

For the fundraiser, Naomi was invited to join the ‘Histon Hobblers’, a ladies’ adult running club based in Cambridge. Despite having her tonsils out at the end of February, the young runner insisted she’d be well enough to start the challenge on March 1. On the dark and rainy nights, Naomi kept her spirits up, determined to get as many kilometres covered as she could. She didn’t take one day off in the whole month.

Naomi said: “I found it an amazing experience especially as I love running. It was also nice to get out during lockdown and raise money for Cancer Research, due to the fact my grandad unfortunately passed away from it. We’ve also lost other family friends to cancer so I thought it was a great cause.”

Only 10-years-old at the time, Naomi was the youngest member in the 29-strong team, and two days before her 11th birthday, the young athlete ‘arrived’ in Cambridge, USA on March 27. Her team covered a distance 6247km of which Naomi contributed 403km, (equivalent to 250 miles) putting her in joint 46^th out of 1411 contestants.

The huge effort raised an impressive £2802.

Naomi’s next challenge is in September, in an event organised by ‘Virtual Runners’ which will be an official Guinness World Records certified run, attempting to beat the record of the most users to complete a remote 10km (6.2 mile) run in 24 hours.