Highdown ride for children in Cambodia

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By Laura Herbert
Reading Post
January 14, 2010

HIGHDOWN SCHOOL HEADTEACHER TIM ROYLE IN TRAINING FOR THE CHARITY BIKE RIDE ACROSS VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA, WHICH HE AND OTHER TEACHERS ARE TAKING PART IN FOR HOPEASIA. FROM LEFT, HARRY SANTER, EMMA REYNOLDS, NICCI BURNS, NOEL DENNEY AND GILL POLLOCK

Teachers at an Emmer Green secondary school are swapping the classroom for the open road as they pedal their way to raising cash for charity.

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre headteacher Tim Royle is one of 18 people connected with the school taking part in the 450km cycle ride from Vietnam to Cambodia next month.

He said: “We are raising money for HopeAsia which supports about 50 to 60 children in an orphanage in Cambodia.”

The charity was set up to fund the orphanage and provide food, water, clothing, medical care, education and a safe home for the children.

Mr Royle said: “So far we have raised £31,655 but I think £150,000 is what we should be aiming for.

“Students and others who are not going on the trip have been raising money with a very successful fashion show that raised £1,000. We are very grateful to parents and businesses that gave clothes to the show.

“We have held car boot sales, non-uniform days and music and drama productions as part of the fundraising.”

The team includes Mr Royle’s assistant Nicci Burns, deputy headteacher Emma Reynolds, learning support assistant Gill Pollock, music teacher Harry Santer and design and technology teacher Noel Denney.

Mr Royle added: “We have all been training hard as for the first three days we have to cycle 60 miles, but the weather hasn’t really helped at the moment.

“It’s going well and some of those involved have said how much fitter they feel.

“We will be cycling from the capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, to the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat in Northern Cambodia to see how the money will help.

“With the funds we hope to build a classroom or provide some accommodation making it safer and more secure for them. It’s about giving the children there a chance they might not have had.”

The team will head off for the trip during the February half-term holiday leaving for Vietnam on Friday, February 12.

To sponsor the group visit www.justgiving.com/highdownteam.

laura.herbert@reading-epost.co.uk