A TEACHER has seen his fundraising drive backed by generous pupils who have raised more than £1,800 ahead of Sunday's marathon.

Thurrock teacher Huw Breese, who is head of humanities at The Gateway Academy, in Grays, has already raised more than £1,800 for Ormiston Families, largely due to the work of his students.

Huw will be taking on the 26.2 mile marathon on Sunday in London in an attempt to inspire his son and students to keep fit and healthy, and keep fit himself.

His pupils organised a World Food day at his school, where they tried various foods from all over the world, his pupils organised a football match, cake sales, a sponsored five mile walk and successfully completed the Test Track 10 mile run in Essex, while the staff had a quiz night with a raffle, raising hundreds of pounds.

Huw said: “I’ve always been sporty but I wanted to challenge myself this year in an attempt to keep healthy for my son. It’s getting a bit daunting now as the day gets closer, but training is going well. I keep trying to get the pupils at school involved but they just laugh at me more than anything!

“Ormiston Families was the obvious charity to raise money for as the Ormiston Families Trust do so much for pupils at The Gateway Academy. They help with things most students take for granted, like stationary and school uniforms, but also arrange incredible trips abroad to really round out their educational experience. This is something we just wouldn’t be able to do without Ormiston Families.”

Ormiston Families provides wide-ranging support for children and young people, from helping those affected by mental ill health, imprisonment and abuse, to assistance for young parents and those struggling in school.

All money raised by Huw and his students will go towards the charity’s services.

If you would like to sponsor Huw’s marathon challenge, click here