King Edward’s School student organiser and member of the KES Medical Society, Alyssa Dunlop, celebrates the school’s incredible feat in raising money for the NHS
Over the 13th and 14th of June, 175 members of the KES community set out to complete the #KESruns4NHSheroes challenge, an event which included running, walking or cycling 10km to raise money for the NHS.
This event was organised by pupil members of KES MedSoc (Medical Society) and we would like to thank everyone who got behind this challenge and made it such a success. What started with only 10 of us eventually grew into an un-matched team; from our youngest member Ettie in Year 1, to our Headmaster Mr Boden, along with numerous other pupils, teachers, families and alumni. Our target was to raise £1,000, but to date we have already raised an amazing £6,047 (and counting) for the Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, as part of NHS Charities Together.
An idea to support this NHS charity was proposed and discussed within KES MedSoc. We concluded that there are no finer recipients than those who have continuously put their lives on the line to protect us all, especially during a period of uncertainty and unprecedented change. The money we raise will be used by NHS charities to support staff, volunteers and patients as they combat the profound impacts of the coronavirus crisis. This cause is particularly poignant for KES MedSoc, a group comprised of aspiring medics, many of whom will hopefully go on to be a part of the NHS.
Our next step in organising such an event was to simply spread the word. From Joe Bruton (Year 12) producing impressive flyers, writing emails and swiftly setting up our Just Giving page (which is still active now), to a promotional video made by MedSoc and edited by Issy Crighton (Year 12), word spread quickly and donations began to roll in. It was heart-warming to watch so many members join the team, even from around the globe, thanks to MedSoc member Aoi Seiki (Year 11) currently in Japan.
Eventually the weekend arrived which would see all 175 members complete their 10km through rain, shine and everything in-between! We saw runs being completed on treadmills, off-road trails, on bikes and on foot – one family even completed theirs on a tandem bicycle! Special mentions also include 12MR and 12SFH, who completed the challenge as a whole form, whilst the English Department holds the record for ‘Most Participants’, with five members taking part. Cameron Coutts (Year 11) even managed to complete his run in an astonishing 44 minutes flat!
Thank you to every single person who was involved in any capacity, your generosity is uplifting. We should all be proud to be part of a KES community that is so strong – even when we’re not physically together, we can still achieve so much together.