Story added: 7th July 2021
Her running challenge helps Kenninghall Primary School enjoy Foundation sessions
A young Foundation participant’s fundraising efforts has brought new sporting opportunities to her school.
Eleven-year-old Sophie Turrell, a schoolgirl from Kenninghall Primary School near Thetford and a member of the Foundation’s Girls Football & Education programme, is passionate about sport and creating opportunities for others.
During April, she set herself the challenge to run four kilometres every day in an effort to raise funds for her school and their sports programme.
Her epic 30-day challenge raised over £600, and the Foundation’s schools team were brought in to run the sessions.
When Asa Saunders, the Foundation’s Schools Programme Manager, found out that a pupil had raised the funds for the provision, he ensured that Sophie was very much part of the process in helping choose what her money would bring to the school.
“We thought a full day where all pupils could take part in physical activity and have fun with our sports coaches, would be a great use of Sophie’s funds. That way it would involve everyone, including the teachers.”
This Collapsed Curriculum day took place at the school on Monday 28th June led by Schools Engagement Officer Ryan Fuller and included football matches and training, as well as a number of teambuilding exercises and workshops centred around the theme of resilience.
Sophie’s funds will be used to bring a new 12-week after-school football club to Kenninghall Primary, starting this autumn – as well as an additional Collapsed Curriculum Day later in the year. Both these will be Sophie’s legacy for Kenninghall as she will move on to high school in the autumn.
Asa concluded, “I would like to thank Sophie for being so inspiring, Sophie’s mum Tasha for connecting us to the school, and Kenninghall Primary for being ambitious to allow all 90 pupils to be released off timetable so they could enjoy the day we put together for them.
“We can’t wait to work with the school on a weekly basis this autumn.”
To find out more about the Foundation’s school sports offerings, click here.