Four Ely teachers have raised £11,000 for Ugandan families ahead of taking on a 26.2 mile marathon in the African country.

Richard Oliver, Alison Stewart, Amanda Kippax and Claire Kyndt, who are all members of teaching staff at King’s Ely Junior and King’s Ely Senior, are taking on the Uganda Marathon on June 2.

The challenge will see the team, which includes Richard’s wife, Niki, joining thousands of participants from around the world, to take on the 26.2 mile course through remote, hard-baked tracks in the equatorial heat.

The team have raised £11,730 so far thanks to family, friends, colleagues and by holding fundraising events in the school. However, their aim is to raise at least £16,000.

They have also collected dozens of pairs of unwanted trainers and running shoes to give to Ugandan runners so that they do not have to do the race barefoot.

In the week leading up to the race, the teachers will also be taking part in a variety of local voluntary-based projects in Uganda.

The projects include a school sports day to support the UN’s Global Goal initiative.

Miss Stewart, biology teacher and Year 12 academic coordinator at King’s Ely Senior, said: “My two favourite pastimes are running and travelling, however I am aware that my sport, which has taken up hours of my life, is a little selfish.

“When Richard casually mentioned the Uganda Marathon last summer, I eagerly checked out the event website and realised that this was a project not to be missed on so many levels.

“The opportunity to be involved in raising money for, and then visiting the projects we support first hand, seemed like a fairly unique set up.

“The groups that the Uganda Marathon supports are so varied and so worthwhile that I am hoping we can make a real difference to the community.

“The added bonus is that I get to have my first taste of East Africa, and run 26.2 miles at altitude over some unforgiving hills on the Equator. I can’t wait.”

The Ugandan life expectancy is just 54 years and access to health and education is inconsistent.

To donate, visit: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/kingselyrunuganda