Pupils pound paths in park
FIFTY-EIGHT students from Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy (OBA) in Runcorn have completed the 5k Runcorn ParkRun event at Phoenix Park – with many running in memory of a musician who lost his life tragically young.
For some it was their first go at the challenge and for some it was the furthest they have ever run. Stacey Snagg, of OBA, said many of the young runners wore a vest featuring a picture of 19 year old River Reeves, a talented musician who lost his life alongside his Warrington-based Viola Beach bandmates and manager in a road traffic tragedy in 2016 in Sweden.
Following River’s death his family set up ‘ The River Reeves Foundation’, which OBA students have raised more than £360 for with more expected to fol- low. A multinational company has agreed to match the amount raised by OBA’s young athletes meaning bringing the total to over £720.
The foundation provides music and art lessons for gifted youngsters and provides mental health counsellors to schools and colleges.
Allan Bird, the teacher who led the event, said: “This run took a huge amount of organising and would not have been possible without the fantastic support of OBA colleagues who gave up a Saturday morning to run with our students, marshal and photographs the event.
“The ParkRun officials were delighted by the efforts of our students, some who returned with families to run the following Saturday after catching the running bug.
“They particularly commended a group of Year 8 girls who arrived early the following week and helped to set up the fin- ishing funnel.
“After the run, I received a number of messages commending the enthusiasm and behaviour of our students.” ●