On Saturday 12th September, a team of 13 runners representing Linaker Primary School will take on the demanding Born Survivor Lancashire obstacle course to raise funds for a very special project that is close to the hearts of the entire school community.
The team will tackle mud, water, climbing walls and a host of physical challenges in support of plans to create a new reading shed within the Early Years outdoor area. This exciting addition will provide our youngest children with a dedicated space to enjoy books, stories and reading outdoors, helping to nurture a lifelong love of learning.
The fundraising campaign has a particularly special purpose. The reading shed will be created in memory of a much-loved member of staff, Liz Cadwell, who sadly passed away during the last academic year. It will serve as a lasting tribute to their dedication, kindness and commitment to the children and families of Linaker, ensuring their positive impact continues to be felt for years to come.
Making the challenge even more meaningful, one of the 13 runners will be the late staff member's brother, who currently serves in the Armed Forces. His decision to take part demonstrates the strength of the connections that extend beyond the school gates and highlights how deeply our colleague was valued by those around them.
With just a few months to go until the event, the team is already hard at work preparing for what promises to be a gruelling test of endurance. Staff members are currently following training programmes and supporting one another through their preparations to ensure they are ready to take on the demanding 12km course, which includes a range of physically and mentally challenging obstacles. While the event will undoubtedly push them out of their comfort zones, the team's shared determination and commitment to the cause continue to drive them forward.
Preparing for Born Survivor requires resilience, perseverance and a willingness to support one another through every challenge. Those qualities have been evident throughout the team's training, as colleagues, friends and family members have come together with a shared goal: to create something special for future generations of Linaker children while honouring the memory of someone who meant so much to our school.
The school will soon be launching a JustGiving page, giving families, friends and members of the wider community the opportunity to support the challenge and help turn this vision into reality. Funds raised through the challenge will be added to the generous financial support already received from The Sparkle Bean Trust [sparklebean.co.uk], a charity that supports schools and communities through some of their most difficult times. This combined funding will help bring the reading shed project to life and create a lasting legacy.
Every donation, no matter how large or small, will bring us one step closer to creating a welcoming outdoor reading space that will benefit children for many years to come.
We hope the whole Linaker community will join us in supporting our runners as they prepare for this incredible challenge. Their efforts reflect the spirit that makes our school such a special place: caring for one another, striving to achieve something meaningful and working together to make a difference.
The school’s Go Fund Me page can be contributed to here.