***MARCH 2023***

✨🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🌅🤩✨

I’ve decided to don my finest, sparkliest walking attire to raise as much as possible for The Shooting Star Children's Hospices in memory of my inspirational teacher Jill Grant by taking part in their 10K Sunrise Walk in Richmond on Sunday 25th June.

When I learnt in 2019 that Jill had finally lost her battle with cancer I was totally lost for words, “distraught`’ doesn’t even come close. However, remembering her ability to always find a silver lining, even in the darkest of places, I immediately felt the need to do something charitable and positive that she would be proud of.

In the summer of 2018 she told me that, "her pupils were her children," and so it seemed fitting to raise funds in her memory for this sensational children's charity, whose Shooting Star House is around the corner from school and which first opened its doors when I was a 6th Former and Jill was still teaching.

The Richmond Sunrise walk event seemed appropriate for so many reasons, not to mention Jill’s own warmth, sunny disposition and love of the local area. I signed up ready to do it right away that Summer back in 2019, but then due to my own sudden ill health, (which has unfortunately continued to this day), followed the year after by the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the world, my plans were somewhat scuppered… until now! 

What a better way to celebrate the memory such an extraordinary teacher who, during her 30 years teaching at LEH, inspired me and a multitude of girls to pursue their dreams, live life to the full and to always see the funny side of things, no matter what life throws at you!

Sparkly Striders’ team name is inspired by that unmistakable twinkle in Jill’s eye, which everyone knew so very well! She had impeccable dress sense and it’s no secret that she herself was partial to a little sparkle here and there. Furthermore, I think she would see the humour in the fact that a night owl like me was attempting a Sunrise Walk!

My Mum has very kindly volunteered to walk with me, having got to know Jill with her wicked sense of humour and twinkle in her eye so well as an LEH parent over the 23 years since we first met her when I was an Upper IY. 

Our teachers really are some of the most important people to touch our lives. Whilst finding the words to write this, and with Jill in mind, I came across this quote for the first time and it resonated with me.

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings...warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” Carl Jung 

With Jill’s warmth she was not only able to not only teach us, but nurture our souls and help us blossom into compassionate, sensitive and determined young women.

Aged 8 in Upper I, I was lucky enough to have Jill as my form teacher and I and my family feel privileged to have known her for over 23 years, (wow how time flies)! Her unfailingly positive attitude, kindness, charitable nature, wicked sense of humour and unmistakable wit were character traits which I and so many others will treasure forever. 

There are so many memories of her exceptional teaching that there frankly isn’t enough space here to scratch the surface, however, you may remember some of these; her iconic bookworm stickers which grew across the wall as the term progressed to encourage you to read and have fun doing so, her library, which I and so many others spent many a happy hour and lunch break in with her. Her enthusiasm for history, especially the Celts, Anglos Saxons and Boudicca was infectious and of course her passion for creative writing and encouraging her girls to use their imaginations. Her ink stamp collection was legendary and the excitement of opening your marked homework to see which brightly coloured ink stamp you had received is something I’m sure many of her pupils will never forget. Her joy for singing too, whether it be hymns in assembly or carols at the Alumnae Carol Service with her, is something I have continued to carry into my adult life. 

LEH has a history of truly remarkable women and Jill was most certainly one.

I would be delighted it if anyone, alumnae, staff, present pupils or parents felt they would like to join me in this walk this summer in memory of a truly special teacher and friend. I have also chosen the shorter 10km distance for this reason. In order to join you simply need to add “Sparkly Striders” into the Team name section when you register.

I think she would be touched by the idea of her girls teaming up together in order to bring sparkles and fun to the world in her memory. Every penny we raise will help bring more joy, smiles and laughter to the lives of these special children and their families. Here’s hoping we can make her proud.

Now, with Jill in my heart, it’s time to get those walking shoes on! ✨🙌🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🤩🎉🥳✨

Emily

Xx

The Sunrise Walk Richmond will take us past famous sights including the River Thames, Hampton Court and the beautiful and wildlife packed Bushy and Richmond Parks. By signing up to take part, l will be helping to ensure that Shooting Star Childrens Hospices can continue to provide vital care and support to hundreds of local families and children who need them more than ever. Thank you ✨🙏🏻✨

***UPDATE 19TH JUNE 2023 - NOT ONLY A WALK BUT A NOW A VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING PARTY ONLINE WITH LIVE DJ’S ON SUNDAY 2ND JULY  TOO! POP THE DATE IN YOUR DIAIRES!***

✨🙌🏻💃🏼🕺🏻🎧🪩🥳🎉🎊✨

On Sunday 25th June, I’ll be up before dawn to walk 10km around Richmond Park, with many hundreds of others, for this truly wonderful children’s charity as the sun comes up. Incidentally, any of you who know me will know that dawn is really not my time of day - I’m such a night owl, so that may be a challenge in itself!

Not only are we going to be doing the Sunrise Walk on 25th June in Jill’s memory, but I’m delighted to announce I will be hosting an online virtual fundraiser via Mixcloud on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd July, a week after the walk, from 12pm, which all are very welcome to join! Yours truly will be doing at least one DJ set and I’ve called in a few favours from my top DJ friends, including Radio Jackie’s Breakfast show presenter Neil Long, so it should be a fun afternoon packed full of awesome summer tunes.

I really hope that ultimately, we can raise as much money as possible for this phenomenal charity whilst at the same time bringing joy to others, including hopefully some of those currently at the hospices and their families. The Mixcloud link is: https://www.mixcloud.com/live/Longie. The great thing is you can join us from anywhere in the world and simply just bop around your kitchen if you fancy it - so there’s no excuse not to pop the date in your diary and get out your dancing shoes!

Thank you to everyone who is already supporting me, I feel incredibly lucky to have such wonderful friends and family who know how important to me this walk is for my phenomenal teacher and friend. 

For those of you who are able to support us with a donation the to this JustGiving we are incredibly grateful, particularly in these financially challenging times. It will make such a difference to not only a child or young person’s life but to their families and friends too.

However, please do join us online on 2nd July from midday for some fun with no obligation to donate at all. It’s a way to celebrate an awe-inspiring lady and all the happiness, joy and laughter she stood for - the more the merrier!

On that note, it’s time to get my walking shoes back on and prepare for that dawn chorus on 25th June!

Emily x”✨ 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🌅 🙌🏻✨