The atmosphere across the school was almost indescribable and it brought out the very best in our children.  From Year 5 cheering on Hive children doing their laps, to Reception and Pre-School children cheering on the masses over lunch. My overriding memory will be the 30 minute lunchtime laps, when hundreds of our children gave up their own free time to run laps around our school, with a view to ensuring we reached our goal; proudly sharing that they had managed to increase their laps from the previous day.

It was so special to be part of the event, pushing ourselves under the watchful eye of our Jade, Miss Gilbert.

There are many people that we need to thank:

• Firstly, all the staff who gave up many hours to volunteer before school, over lunch and after school and who pushed themselves on the equipment each day; thank you for embracing the organised chaos!
• A special thank you to the committee, who planned the event, pulled the ideas and thoughts together, whether it be working out the miles, plotting the route, organising resources, dojo/social media posts, creating spreadsheets, inputting data, sorting rotas and staffing and basically making it all a reality.
• Our amazing PTFA who supported all of our events and provided refreshments, helped with the selling of merchandise and their incredibly generous donation of over £8000!
• All of our visitors over the 3 days who helped the children clock up the miles: Leicester Riders Basketball team, Hinckley Running Club, Future School Fitness, Didi Rugby, Premier Education, Leicester Tigers Women, Leicester City Football Club, Hinckley Leisure Centre, Robinsons Coaches, Coach Unlimited, Hinckley Rugby Club and LCC Bikeability team.
• The very generous companies who donated raffle prizes – Ekte, Hays Travel, Aspire People, The Royal Redgate, Essentials Beauty and The Nurses Clinic.
• Local businesses who made donations or supported our fundraising such as Drive Vauxhall Nuneaton, The Clarence, Josh Darby, Nestle, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Morrisons
• The wider community who also took part in our challenge: our After School Club, past pupils and staff, our families, parents and carers and Board of Trustees.
• A huge thank you to the Empire Gym Community who were up early in the morning and extremely late at night logging the miles; for the staff who ran the Boot Camp and Clubbercise and worked tirelessly in the gym and for the loaning of the equipment - we will be forever grateful!
• To Jade’s family, for allowing us to plan such an event in her name and for being with us, and participating at every step. You are very much part of the Battling Brook family and look forward to you officially opening Jade’s Gym later this term.
• To the pupils who blew us away with your energy, determination and enthusiasm. Many of you had never met Miss Gilbert and yet you embraced the common cause with gusto; you have every reason to be extremely proud of yourselves.

Unsurprisingly, we have smashed the initial target of £16,500 reaching a final total of just over £35,000!! Incredible!  This is thanks to the generosity of our, pupils, friends, families and wider community – without you, none of this would have been possible.

Due of everyone’s efforts and hard work, Jade's gym will be a reality and is booked to be installed over the May half term.

We are looking after the remaining money and will share with you some of our other plans shortly, but we are very excited about them and trust you will be too. In addition, we are also looking to see how we can harness the level of activity the children engaged in over the event and will share this with you when finalised.

Please express my heartfelt thanks and overwhelming feeling of pride, to you all at the success of the event. I hope that you agree that we 'did her proud'. I kept thinking just how much Jade would have loved it all!

Once again, from the bottom of my heart – thank you!