Local teacher supports Ripon girl’s bid to compete in 2020 Paralympic Games

19 September 2015

Belmont Grosvenor School teacher Nicola Shillam swapped her classroom for the streets of Tyneside at the weekend to take part in the Great North Run.

The Year 1 teacher at the co-educational prep school in Harrogate joined more than 57,000 runners to compete in the popular half marathon to raise money for Ripon schoolgirl Jenny Unwin.

The teenager was left paralysed two years ago after her bike was in collision with a car on the outskirts of Ripon. She has set her heart on competing at the 2020 Para Olympic Games in Tokyo – and a fundraising appeal has been set up to help her reach her goal.

Mrs Shillam, a keen runner who last competed in the Great North Run 13 years ago, has so far raised around £200 for the Jenny Unwin Appeal with the help of family, friends, staff and parents at ‘outstanding’ Belmont Grosvenor School.

 

Mrs Shillam said:

I competed in the Great North Run for the first time 13 years ago but decided to do it again as it’s my 40th year and I wanted a personal challenge to mark this new stage in my life.

I also wanted to help raise money for a worthwhile cause – and support Jenny’s efforts to compete in the Paralympic Games in Japan.

 

Anyone wanting to support the Jenny Unwin Appeal should visit http://www.jennyunwinappeal.com

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