Teachers cycle 126km to support disadvantaged pupils

Seven members of Acorn teaching staff took part in the second Tour D’Acorn cycle ride on Saturday 8^th June, raising over £1,000 for disadvantaged pupils across the Trust.

This year’s team consisted of seven members of Acorn staff: Nick Bloxham, Ollie Stacey, Anthony Sanchez, Rob Price, Joe Kendrick, Gemma Knudsen and Dave Cade. The team, who all have varying cycling experience, were determined to complete the ride and raise money to support those in need through purchasing school uniform and supplies, to helping fund extra-curricular activities.

Dave Cade, Deputy Headteacher at Clarendon Academy, commented: “we were really excited to take on this challenge and put all our training to good use. We know first-hand the difficulties that many of our pupils and their families are facing. The Tour D’Acorn offers us a way to raise funds that will directly help ease the pressures on those in our school communities who are facing hardship.”

Setting of at 5.20am, the cyclists spent the day travelling through the Wiltshire countryside visiting each of the Trust’s settings (from Trowbridge to Rowde, Devizes to Durrington and Warminster to Dilton Marsh).   Some of the schools had kindly opened their doors on Saturday to offer refreshment stops for the cyclists and to cheer them on.

Rob Price, Director of Secondary Education, added: “The last Tour D’Acorn was such a huge success and made a difference to so many pupils in the Trust and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to raise more money for those in need. I am really proud of the whole team for completing the cycle and would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated and supported us already, including to the schools who opened for us over the weekend to cheer us on and our support team.”

So far, the Tour D’Acorn has raised over £1,000 all of which will go towards projects within the Trust that support children and young people’s academic and extra-curricular experience within Acorn schools.

If you would like to donate to the Tour D’Acorn, please visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tourdacorn2023