Students, staff and families at The Blandford School have completed the equivalent of cycling, running and walking from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in a 24-hour charity challenge – comfortably exceeding their original target.
The school’s TBS Does LEJOG Challenge saw participants cover a combined 2,026 kilometres between 5pm on Friday 3rd July and 5pm on Saturday 4th July. The original aim had been to complete 1,400 kilometres, but the school community surpassed that total by more than 600 kilometres.
The event was organised to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get active while raising money for Teddy20, which supports children and families affected by cancer, and Andy’s Man Club, the men’s mental health charity.
Throughout the challenge, students, staff, families and friends took part in relay-style walking, running and cycling, with supporters cheering participants on around the route. One of the key stopping points was The Black Cat Café at Gains Cross, where participants received refreshments and encouragement.
The challenge was organised by the school’s PE department, led by Head of PE Niall Clinton.
The achievement was followed by a Family Day at the school, bringing together pupils, parents and the wider community for live entertainment, performances and activities.
Visitors enjoyed performances by the Stour Valley Band and Circus of Thieves, while Phoenix Ariel delivered workshops and displays throughout the day. Students also gave audiences a preview of Spectacular – A Night at the Musicals, the school’s forthcoming production scheduled for October.
A raffle, supported by local businesses, included a top prize of two tickets to England’s match against Spain at Wembley, donated by Riverside Travel.
A spokesperson for The Blandford School said: ‘The LEJOG Challenge has been an incredible example of what can be achieved when our community comes together. The determination, enthusiasm and support shown by students, staff, families and our local partners has been truly inspiring. We set out to complete 1,400 kilometres and to finish on 2,026 kilometres is an amazing achievement. The Family Day was the perfect way to celebrate, bringing everyone together to enjoy performances, activities and the amazing talents within our community.’
The school’s fundraising pages for Teddy20 and Andy’s Man Club remain open, with organisers hoping to build on the success of the event in the weeks ahead.
TBS Does LEJOG 2026 – Teddy20 fundraising page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/tbsdoes26teddy20
TBS Does LEJOG 2026 – Andy’s Man Club fundraising page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/theblandfordschool-tbsdoes26andysmanclub
