Jack’s giant goal 100,000 step target for Year 6 pupil
ASCHOOLBOY has shown us all how it’s done by pledging to walk 100,000 steps in his back garden for those without a home after he was forced to isolate.
Turning adversity into action, Jack Ryall of Ann Edwards Primary School in Cirencester, got the idea after being told his Year 6 class had to self-isolate over half term after a classmate was diagnosed with coronavirus.
But in a bid to stay active and not let it get him down, Jack and his mum Claire came up with the idea that he’d walk 100,000 steps (about 60km) in his back garden in South Cerney for homeless charity the Big Yellow Bus Project.
He started on October 22 and finished last Friday having covered roughly 15,000 steps per day.
This is quite the achievement considering the length of his back garden is just 25 steps.
His mum Claire says he spends up to two and a half hours every day walking in the garden, despite the appalling weather the county has been faced with the past few days.
But come rain, hail, thunder and shine - Jack’s kept on walking.
Claire said: “Jack’s having to isolate over half term, and we were trying to think of ways for him to get some fresh air and exercise and he decided he wanted to do 100,000 steps by Friday this week.
“He’s walking about two to two and a half hours a day and has been walking every day, no matter the weather.”
She said that the family were “really proud”.
“We’re really proud of him”, Claire said.
“That he’s taken the initiative and that he’s taken something positive out of something that might not have been and that he’s stuck with it and were really proud of him.”
Jack chose to do the walk so he could raise money for two very deserving causes close to his heart.
One being his school’s PTA, who would usually raise up to £10,000 per year for the school but due to the pandemic have been unable to.
Another is The Big Yellow Bus Project, a charity in Cirencester which provides shelter and support for those sleeping rough on the streets.
Jack said: “I chose The Big Yellow Bus Project. I’d chosen it because I wanted to try and help the homeless charity and I’ve always wanted to help the homeless.
“I feel quite happy about what I’ve done it’s been a good thing to do.
Joking that his little legs were quite sore, Jack said he was looking forward to going to the park with his mum and getting a chocolate brownie on Friday after his final walk and his isolation finishes.
At the time of writing Jack had raised more than £1,500 for his charities, which he will split 50 per cent to each, and said that “it feels amazing” and “a bit weird” to raise so much. His original target was just £150. But not only that, Jack has said that the support he’s received from his classmates has meant a lot to him too.
To join them and help him in his target visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ jacks100000steps
He said: “Because my whole class has to isolate we keep on contact on Class Dojo [school app], and someone who supported me donated some money and they actually work at my school, so they told my teacher and then they told everyone on Class Dojo.
“Someone donated their own pocket money and another person is going to do some walks to support me.
“When I first got told about it [isolating] I was quite nervous and worried about what would happen next but it’s all turned out quite well.”
Ann Edwards Primary School business manager, Kevin Parker, said that it was great that Jack had brought some positive light to the school after what could have been a “negative thing”.
He said: “He’s grabbed this opportunity by the horns , it’s not been the nicest weather.
“I think he would be delighted to get £100, he’s probably bouncing off the walls that he’s done so well.
“Covid is a negative thing for people but a 10-year-old boy coming up with something off his own accord to raise money for two amazing causes is so great.
“He’s trying to make the best of a bad situation, it’s the kind of mindset that we want all our children to aspire to be. We’re all rooting for him.”
When I first got told about it [isolating] I was quite nervous and worried about what would happen next but it’s all turned out quite well. Jack Ryall