RUNNING FOR REED’S - A parent of a Foundation pupil at Reed’s shares her story Posted - 03/02/2020

Every year a number of brave souls agree to run the London Marathon for the Foundation. Donations received are all attributed to the current Annual Foundation Appeal. The kind supporters who agree to this intrepid challenge are usually a mixture of Old Reedonians, parents of current pupils, friends of the School and even, on occasion, one of our athletic Upper Sixth pupils.

This is the poignant story of one of our parents, Daniela, who ran the London Marathon for the Foundation and whose son is himself a Foundation pupil, benefitting from the opportunity to have his life transformed by the opportunity to attend Reed’s.

“Every year, I would watch the Marathon runners, secretly wishing I was one of them. Then I received an email - I was offered a place to run in the London Marathon and, at the same time, to do something special: raise money for the Reed’s Foundation, a cause very close to my heart.

I was excited and terrified at the same time; I started my 26-week training almost immediately with only one aim in mind: to give back something to the Foundation which changes lives. I set up my fundraising page and was overwhelmed by generous responses, not only from my family and close friends but so many co-workers, fellow parents of Reed’s pupils and others who wanted to donate to this brilliant charity.

 After a gruelling training schedule, the day of the Marathon finally arrived and I felt ready.  However what I wasn’t anticipating were the crowds of people, people I had never seen or spoken to before, cheering my name and spurring me on. Emotional support that no number of words or training could compensate for. The spirit of London was simply indescribable.

A marathon is the most amazing experience a runner could have; it is also very much a mental challenge, perhaps more so than a physical one. To everyone’s surprise, it was the London weather that would prove to be the biggest challenge on the day as it was incredibly hot and the heat had sapped my energy even before I managed to cross the halfway point. The rest of the run had to be managed by my head and delivered by my heart. I only stopped when I had reached my goal: 26.2 miles.

For the first time in my life I was actually proud of myself; proud and privileged to have had my London Marathon experience and to have run it for the Reed’s Foundation. And most of all proud and thankful to be able to raise nearly £1,500.

I am so happy that the Foundation helps boys like my own son to be able to access the high standard of education and pastoral care that the School offers. Running the Marathon for the Foundation was my way of giving back for the support so many children who are from less privileged backgrounds are offered. The lives of many of those children are completely transformed thanks to the Foundation and I believe that their future is really bright, regardless of their past.

I will always be grateful for the fact that my son is at Reed’s, the school he loves and is so happy at. I will always be grateful to them for giving me the privilege to run the London Marathon for their Foundation. It was simply one of the best and most positively impactful experiences of my life. The spirit of Reed’s is incredible.”