Each year, Wortham Primary School near Diss takes part in the TCS Mini London Marathon schools’ challenge, running 2.6 miles in aid of a charity which they choose each year. It’s an event that brings pupils together and, for the 2026 event which they held in the school’s ground, the school chose to support East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Teacher Nikki Widdeson explains, “All the children take part, and they do as much as they can. They receive a badge at the end, and then there’s a celebration before they go home. Over 100 children took part this year, which was fantastic to see.”
Thousands of schools across the country take part in the TCS Mini London Marathon virtual event. Pupils can run, jog, walk, wheel, or be guided, ensuring the event is inclusive and accessible to all abilities.
“Because the event is affiliated with the TCS London Marathon, the children benefit from being connected with something bigger,” Nikki adds. “We always explain what the London Marathon is and talk about the charity we’re supporting. It gives the children a real sense that they’re part of something important and helps them think about our wider community and how they can make a difference within it.”
In the lead-up to the Mini Marathon, the school spent time learning about East Anglian Air Ambulance and the role it plays in saving lives across the region. Pupils discussed how families in their own communities might one day need the charity’s help, and why its service is so vital – not only because it serves a largely rural area, but because our crews bring hospital-level skills, equipment and medication directly to people at the scene of an emergency.
Each time the red phone rings and crews are tasked to respond, it costs an average of £4,250. That means that fundraising events like the Mini Marathon play a crucial role in ensuring we can continue to reach those in urgent need, delivering lifesaving care when every second counts. So, we are truly thankful for Wortham Primary School’s incredible support and the pupil’s marathon efforts.
“Our fundraising target was £500,” Nikki says. “We were cautious with the target this year, as we’re very aware that the current cost of living means some people may not be able to donate as much as they would like, so we were humbled when almost £3,500 was raised. When we told the children how much had been raised, a huge cheer went up. They were so proud of themselves and what they had achieved together.”
It takes a team to save a life, and every contribution really does make a difference. Thank you, Wortham Primary School, for being part of our crew – your mini marathon steps really are lifesaving!
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