A drama teacher at a Yate secondary school ran over 100km in May to raise funds for mental health charity, The Samaritans.

Katie Hitchcock, head of drama at Brimsham Green school pledged to run the distance and raise money after reaching out to the charity herself.

Katie found her mental health and wellbeing was compromised as lockdown forced her into isolation, knowing the importance of exercise, she challenged herself to run the centenary distance and donations have now topped £700.

Katie said:

" I’ve been at Brimsham Green school for 11 years and it seems very strange to not be with my students and I miss them hugely.

"The change from being surrounded by people and students all day, to suddenly being isolated away from friends and family and colleagues a real struggle on my mental health, and also on those around me.

"I reached out to the Samaritans for support and also advice, on how to help those closest to me whose mental health was being affected by lockdown.

"They were hugely supportive and showed me, more than ever, that is important to be open about mental health issues.

"One message that I kept telling my students, friends and family about positive mental health was the importance of exercise - so I decided to follow my own advice and set myself the challenge of running 100km during May.

"At the same time, I wanted to pay back the support the Samaritans offer by raising money for them. I was overwhelmed with the amount I raised, £731 to date,- much of that sponsorship coming from my Brimsham Green Colleagues.

"As this so was much more than my original target, I feel that it is only fair to run much more than my 100km.

"I ended the month of May having clocked up 125km and now have started on my pledge to run 150km in June."

Headteacher Kim Garland added:

"The wellbeing of staff, students and parents is one of Brimsham’s four strategic priorities.

"One dimension to this is talking openly about our emotional wellbeing, and recognising that it is ‘okay not to be okay’.

"The Samaritans is a charity close to our hearts at Brimsham and I am so proud of Mrs Hitchcock’s support for them – the funds she has raised will enable volunteers to take 146 calls this coming month."