The Pretty Muddy® 5k is no ordinary race, as competitors jump, climb and slide their way over obstacles and through mud to the finish line. The team’s achievement reflects Meon Way Federation’s commitment in ensuring everyone can ‘Be Their Best Self’ demonstrating kindness, compassion and a shared belief in one another.
At the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, Transforming Life Chances is our shared mission - ensuring every child can have a fulfilling future, regardless of their background or circumstance.
This achievement is a strong example of our mission in action and Kate Aylward, Manager of Little Thinkers at Meon Way, reflected on why the money raised is so important and how one girl inspired them to run.
“As a team, we decided to do it because one of the children we cared for contracted a very rare type of cancer. During her treatment, she lost her hair, a lot of weight and a year of school but never lost her smile.
“We’ll forever be in awe of her, and we all have our personal stories of how cancer has affected us. We ran for her, her amazing family and all children who face cancer”.
This achievement highlights how staff from across the Thinking Schools Academy Trust go above and beyond their roles to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people.
At Little Thinkers, our teams light up learning and develop nurturing relationships with children to demonstrate good learning habits and how to work with their peers.
Through experiences like this, staff model metacognitive skills to help our young learners understand self-awareness. This reinforces and encourages the practice of self-reflection in everything they do, so children take ownership of their development.
In doing so, staff become powerful role models, setting the right example of how to become active members of their communities and wider world.
Mrs S. Paine, Executive Headteacher for Meon Way Federation, recognised how the team embodied the school’s ethos ‘Be Your Best Self’, and the impact their achievement has on pupils.
“What our amazing Little Thinkers staff have done is truly incredible and they are shining examples of being their best self by completing this challenge.
“Cancer affects all of us directly or indirectly, and the fact the team did it for an inspiring young girl from our nursery brings it home even more. These generous donations from so many people will go such a long way in supporting so many young people and adults who are suffering”.
The Little Thinkers team’s dedicated fundraising page is still open if anyone wishes to donate via this link.
Their inspiring achievement reflects the ongoing commitment to shaping the success of every young person at Meon Way Federation and across the Thinking Schools Academy Trust. The team have shown every child in their care what it truly means to be successful, through courage, kindness and belief in themselves.