St John’s teacher’s final preparations under way for summer fundraising challenge (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

St John’s teacher’s final preparations under way for summer fundraising challenge

9:00am Wednesday 18th July 2012 in Wiltshire

An assistant headteacher at St John's School in Marlborough will be attempting to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats over nine days this month to raise money for an all weather pitch at the school.

Tom Nicholls is aiming to cycle 100 miles each day for nine days, and has already raised £2,600 towards his fundraising target of £5,000.

He will be cycling alone and staying in Youth Hostels every night. The route will take him through 16 counties and through several major cities, and aims to be on the road by 7.30am every day.

Mr Nicholls, who has been a PE and Psychology teacher at St Johns for 17 years, has been planning the ride for several months and is in regular serious training for the gruelling challenge.

He decided to take it on as a way to help the school raise the funds it needs to complete the external facilities, which have been under development since the new building opened in December 2009.

“I have always enjoyed a challenge, and I realised this would be something I can do that will support the school and at the same time enable me to achieve a personal goal,” said Mr Nicholls.

“The new school is a stunning facility for our students and for so many members of the local community, and completion of the school’s external sports facilities are crucial and are very close to my heart.

"I am stunned and so pleased to have had so many sponsors already, and want to sincerely thank everyone who is supporting me.”

The All Weather Pitch will be the next phase in construction of the external sports facilities at St John’s, and work will start once sufficient funds have been raised.

The current phase, the construction of six tennis courts on the site of the old Stedman school building is almost complete, with lines now painted on four of the six courts.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mr Nicholls can donate online at www.justgiving.com/TomNicholls12 or can donate by mobile phone (to donate £10 text SJTN99 £10 to 70070).

Alternatively, anyone wanting can call Kate Hunter at St John’s on 01672 519575 for more information.