Midhurst College students collectively run 40 kilometres for women in sport

On Friday 9th February, Midhurst Rother College celebrated the 40th anniversary of the formation of Women in Sport and forty years since women were first allowed to run the marathon in the Olympics with an exciting running challenge.
By Henry Bryant
Published 19th Feb 2024, 08:41 BST
Updated 19th Feb 2024, 08:52 BST
Running 40km for 40 years!Running 40km for 40 years!
Running 40km for 40 years!

To mark the forty years and promote women and girls’ participation in sport, 40 girls in Year 8 collectively ran, skipped or wheelchair raced forty kilometres. The girls completed this ‘WOMArathoN’ challenge in teams and earned house points for their efforts.

Alex Danson-Bennett, former hockey player and Olympic gold medallist, also took part by running alongside the girls in her role as a Sports Ambassador for United Learning – the national group of schools of which Midhurst Rother College is part of.

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The event was held to launch PARIS 2024, United Learning’s new initiative across its schools which aims to promote sport and active lifestyles with activities inspired by the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A whole host of events are planned, including national and regional tournaments in netball, rugby, rowing and artistic swimming with support from ambassadors and partners such as the Rugby Football Union (RFU).A whole host of events are planned, including national and regional tournaments in netball, rugby, rowing and artistic swimming with support from ambassadors and partners such as the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
A whole host of events are planned, including national and regional tournaments in netball, rugby, rowing and artistic swimming with support from ambassadors and partners such as the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Stuart Edwards, Principal of Midhurst Rother College, said: “The launch of PARIS 2024 was a great success – congratulations to all our girls who took part and who made the event such a joyful and inclusive celebration of women in sport.

“We were particularly lucky to have Olympic gold medallist Alex Danson-Bennett in attendance as our Sports Ambassador. Alex is a huge inspiration and we are so grateful to her for her time and generosity.

“With our launch event kicking off PARIS 2024, we are excited to roll out our programme of activities over the coming weeks and months, ensuring that all our students can reap the benefits of sport.”

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Alex Danson-Bennett, former hockey player and Olympic gold medallist, added: “It was absolutely fabulous to be at Midhurst Rother College launching PARIS 2024 with some amazing young women.

“Involvement in sports and being active is so important for all of us – it gives us a sense of pride and achievement, engages us as part of a team and makes us happy. But it can be heartbreaking to hear the national statistics about the drop-off in girls’ participation rates as they get older compared to boys.

“That’s why opportunities like this are so brilliant to inspire and engage with these girls and ensure they can be positive influencers within their own lives and community.”

Related topics:Paris