St Benedict's Pupils help organise the Ealing Sport Relief Mile

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 27th of March 2012

Ben Farmer and Jack Elliott, Year 8 pupils at St Benedict's School, Ealing, helped to organise the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile in Ealing on Sunday 25th March. As one of the UK's biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active and raise cash for a good cause. All the money raised helps to change the lives of people living unimaginably tough lives right here on our doorstep, across the rest of the UK and in some the world's poorest countries.

Paul Farmer, Ben's father, has organised the Ealing event for the last few years but Ben has increasingly taken on more of the organisational duties and this year his friend Jack helped him. In the run up to the event the pair recruited runners at the school and in local scout groups and distributed leaflets. On the day Ben and Jack were based at Brent Lodge Park in Hanwell and were busy organising the start and finish, preparing the medal presentations and setting up water stations along the route. Setting off from Brent Lodge Park the Ealing Mile took in the sights of St Mary's Church, Brent Valley Golf Course, the River Brent and Wharncliffe Viaduct. Entrants could choose to complete a 1, 3 or 6 mile course.

The boys' enthusiasm clearly paid off. Ben said, 'The event was a thumping success! We were hoping to do better than last year when the Ealing Mile had over 500 participants and raised £12,000. This year 572 people ran and we think we will raise closer to £20,000.' Although they worked hard the boys enjoyed the day. Jack liked the fun atmosphere of the event. 'Some participants ran in fancy dress. We had several Scooby-Doo's, a Woody and incredibly, one Mum and her teenage son, ran the whole course three-legged!'