Forty-four students from Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre, nine adults and four dogs set off from the Speech House in the Forest of Dean on a damp, cold Saturday morning for the second Collingwood House Charity Walk of this school year, an 18-mile trek from the Speech House to Newent Community School via the top of May Hill.
The weather proved perfect for walking, and we took in some breathtaking scenery and beautiful winter woodland vistas along the way. Recent rain and snow meant the mud proved a real challenge at times, yet everyone remained in good spirits throughout the day, and we all returned to Newent at just before 5pm, tired and muddy, but with a huge sense of personal achievement.
Students who took part have been busy collecting sponsorship in the run-up to the walk, and as usual their collections will go to a diverse range of charities, including Cancer Research UK, the NSPCC, and the Air Ambulance. A number of local charities will also benefit as a result of this latest walk. Between them, the 44 students were sponsored to the tune of £1,800, which is a really impressive total.
Eleven of the students who undertook the walk were Year 9 students involved in the school's Kenya Curriculum Exchange, and the money they raised will go directly towards bringing Kenyan teachers and students from St George's, Newent's sister school, over to England in March next year.