Exeter Pre-Prep pupils set the pace

Pupils at Exeter Pre-Prep School in Exminster have recently run the equivalent of four marathons as part of a sponsored fun run to raise money for Westbank Community Health and Care, a local charity that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people across Devon.

With 72 children under the age of seven, the school hoped that pupils and staff would be able to run a collective marathon (26 miles) throughout the day, with each class taking turns to run laps around the school grounds. However, they managed to clock up a combined total of 112 miles, the equivalent of more than four marathons.

The top distances were recorded by Benji in Nursery, Joshua in Reception, Rupert in Year 1 and Bel in Year 2, who all ran close to or exceeded an impressive 5km throughout the day.

The children raised an amazing £1,423.50 for Westbank after collecting sponsorship from family and friends over the Easter break.

Last week, headteacher Dan Ayling presented a large cheque to Westbank’s Head of Fundraising Katie Elliott. He said: “We are so proud of all the children for their fantastic efforts and the spirit with which they embraced this challenge. We are all delighted to be able to support our friends down the road at Westbank.”

Katie said: “It was great fun watching the children run laps around their school in The Avenue, just across the road from Westbank’s Wellbeing Centre in Exminster. It was lovely that they took on this challenge for us. It’s no mean feat to run that kind of distance at their age, and we’re very grateful for the money they have raised. It will be put to very good use supporting the most vulnerable in our community.”

Founded in 1992 as The New School, Exeter Pre-Prep is an independent school for girls and boys aged 3-7 in Devington Park estate in Exminster. The school changed its name in September 2023 after joining the Exeter School family in 2021.