King’s Lynn students Match Molly’s Miles in support of Atlantic challenge rower
Pupils at a West Norfolk secondary school have been clocking up the miles on a static rower to show their support for a former pupil who is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean for charity.
Former King Edward VII (KES) Academy head girl Molly Hemeter and three other team members are rowing together across the 3,000-mile distance as part of the “World’s Toughest Row Atlantic” race to raise money for children’s brain cancer charity Abbie’s Army, which is a children’s DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) brain tumour research charity.
KES is very proud of Molly's achievements and is supporting her efforts by matching her miles.
Matching Molly's Miles is a house focus as the challenge at the King’s Lynn academy and Molly’s efforts link to many of the academy's values.
Launched last Tuesday, pupils from the four different houses have been using a static rower in the Great Hall and help contribute to an academy total of 3,000 miles to support Molly and her chosen charity.
KES principal Darren Hollingsworth said: “Rowing the Atlantic Ocean is an incredible human achievement and it has now been accomplished by one of our own.
“KES pupils have potential by the bucketload and Molly has inspired us all to show resilience and determination daily.
“Our staff and pupils have 'rowed with her' via our rowing machine, kindly loaned to us by local company, Jordan Fitness, here in school inside our Great Hall and attempted to match Molly's miles.
“We cannot imagine the endurance and mental strength required to complete her goal. We are so very proud.”
Lancaster School house managed to contribute 8,649 metres last Tuesday with Edinburgh York rowing an impressive 10,374m last Wednesday.
Day three saw Gloucester Windsor clock 9,712m before Keene Thoresby completed the first week of the challenge last Friday by rowing a distance of 6470.
Head of PE Jodie Walters said: "We're proud to be supporting Molly with the "Match Molly's Miles" challenge.
"Molly was a former PE A-level student, head girl and was a key player in our sixth form netball team so this event is very important to us as a department.
"In addition, it is a fantastic charity the team is raising money for Abbie's Army which is a children’s DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) brain tumour research charity.
"We have been following Molly's nautical miles and the fantastic progress she has made, we are delighted to champion her incredible effort in this challenge."
Head of House Enrichment and Community Ross McNeil added: "Once we knew Molly was taken on this monumental task we wanted to show our support.
"The only way possible was to turn it into a house event. All week pupils have been showing their support by rowing at lunchtime.”
Danny Gay, also Head of House Enrichment and Community, said: The students loved being part of this challenge and it was relentless, rowing together every day, to match Molly’s miles.
“There was a real sense of community and that’s what we’re all about at KES. It’s who we are, it’s what we do.”
Molly, 27, of North Wootton, is taking part in the Atlantic Fushion challenge. The team is more than three-quarters of the way through - aiming to raise £25,000 for Abbie’s Army.