The three Bedford School teachers took to the capital’s streets in the 36th Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday together with 38000 competitors from across the UK, and indeed the world.
First to cross the 26.2-mile finish line was Biology teacher and experienced triathlete, Mr Charlie Palmer, who completed the marathon in the very quick time of 2 hours, 38 minutes and 1 second. Running for Bedford and County Athletics Club, Mr Palmer raced alongside some of the best marathon runners in the world.
Next to finish was RE teacher, Mr Will Peters, who was delighted to complete his very first marathon. Mr Peters, together with his running partner, has raised over £3,700 to date for the WWF and The Ben Williams Trust – a charity which provides support to children with abnormal heart rhythms and their families. To support Mr Peters’ charities, please visit www.justgiving.com/Rev-and-Will/
Taking on her fourth London marathon, Economics and Business teacher and teacher in charge of the school’s Charities Committee, Mrs Caroline Medley crossed the line in 7 hours and 11 minutes. In the past, she has received treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and she now has ongoing treatment for breast cancer. Speaking on her motivation during the race she told us, “Running in memory of my Dad, the lovely messages on my fund-raising page, the Cancer Research UK cheering stations, and the support of fellow Bedford Harriers all got me to the finish line.' To date, Mrs Medley has raised over £3,750 for Cancer Research UK. If you would like to support Caroline Medley and Cancer Research UK, please visit www.justgiving.com/Caroline-MedleyLondonMarathon2015
In a happy turn of events, the teachers fundraising efforts also, fittingly, helped to push the funds raised by Bedford School’s Charities Committee over the last eight years to over £250,000. The boy-led Charities Committee, overseen by Mrs Medley, has supported over 100 charities in the last eight years, including local charities: Keech Hospice Care, Bedford Daycare Hospice, Headway Bedford, YMCA Bedfordshire, Bedford and District Handicapped Riders Association, CHUMS and the Road Victims Trust. In addition to their fundraising efforts, boys from the school also regularly help out at the local charities for the Community Activity Service (CAS) component of their IB Diploma and the Service component of their Duke of Edinburgh awards.