Six months on

Today it is six months since Graham died. Graham loved the carpet of flowering bluebells in the Spring. This picture was taken in 2006 at Gravetye, West Sussex.

Thame 10k

Preparations are going well for the 16 people who will be running the Thame 10k in memory of Graham on Sunday 27th June. We believe that there are still a few places left, so be quick to register if you are still keen to take part. Towe is very grateful and appreciative to all Graham's friends who will be running.

It would be great to see as many people as possible to cheer on and support the team on the day. They will all be wearing a commemorative Remembering Graham T-shirt. The race starts at 09:30 at Thame Leisure Centre and finishes at the same place - we recommend that you go to the start/finish or Thame High Street (fairly near the start) to cheer on the team. If you would like to wear a Remembering Graham T-shirt, please contact Rick and Becca Bolt at rebecca.bolt@tiscali.co.uk by the June 2nd. The cost is not known but is expected to be in the region of £10.

The course route is on the following link: http://foot4ward.co.uk/2010/05/10/thame-10k-course-preview/

Some of the runners are raising money in Graham's memory for Winston's Wish or Teacher Support Network - if you would like to contribute, go to one of:

http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Bolt for money to go to Winston's Wish, or
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runforgraham for money to go to Teacher Support Network.

James Milne completes half-marathon

James Milne completed the Reading half marathon on 21st March in 2 hours 15 minutes, raising a total of £1,586 in memory of Graham for Winston's Wish and a further £1,020 for North Wilts Portage. All he has said so far is "that it was much harder than I anticipated but I managed to keep going, knowing that it was all for such good causes, and with thoughts of Graham driving me on."

Well done James, and he passes thanks to everyone who supported him.

Teacher Support Network - in memory of Graham

Teacher Support Network (TSN) has recently been in touch about how they plan to use the fund set up in Graham's memory. Graham donated regularly to TSN for 10 years - we don't believe he ever had to use their services but he believed strongly in the need to support teachers in their work. The recent court case of Richard Garner has also highlighted the need to detect and support issues with wellbeing in teachers, and the increasing importance and volume of support provided by the Teacher Support Network.

Using the funds raised in Graham's memory, TSN is launching an online guide to for headteachers to help them look after their own wellbeing and actively facilitate the wellbeing of their staff. You can look at the guide - which is still under development - at the TSN website: http://teachersupport.info/ by following the links to Lead By Example.

For more information about the Richard Garner case and TSN's role in supporting teachers see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/richard-garner-how-stressed-staff-soldier-on-for-fear-of-showing-weakness-1958687.html