Students, staff and friends of Somervale successfully completed their Walk the World Challenge by walking 67,400 times around the school-astro turf. The equivalent of walking to Australia and beyond in a distance of 22,916km. In completing this challenge, students, staff and local business raised an incredible £3,798 towards Sports Relief 2016.

Mark Kenny, Deputy Headteacher, said: “This was an incredible achievement, especially in a small school like our own. We needed to enlist the help of parents and friends to help us complete the laps and the support of many local businesses who sponsored us to help reach our goal of raising over £2,000 for Sports Relief. A huge thanks to them all for getting behind the challenge. The event really captured the imagination of local people and it really was a team effort. The students responded magnificently, with every student in the school contributing some laps and many raising fantastic amounts for charity. It was an event that really brought the school together in a common charitable enterprise and brought out the best in all of us.”

Matthew Dochniak, the Head of PE, was responsible for coming up with the idea and managing the event to its successful conclusion. He said:“We wanted to achieve something memorable that would get staff and students more active, whilst raising as much money as we could for an exceptional cause. I think we certainly achieved that! Students, staff and the community coming together was the real highlight and shows what a fantastic place Somervale School is to be a part of.”

The school would like to publically thank all the local businesses who sent in donations and supported this community challenge, some of which chose to remain anonymous, so thank you to: Midsomer Norton Post Office, Michael Gould Estate Agents, Integrity Print, Short Accountancy, Jones’ Food Solutions, King Watkins, Sign Efex Ltd, Primrose Garden Maintainence Ltd, Midsomer Veterinary Care, Cyclone Racing ltd, TPM and Richard Clayton.