Dad takes on 100km Lake District challenge to raise funds for Millbrook Primary School

A Stalybridge dad is preparing to take on a gruelling 100km running challenge in the Lake District to help raise money for Millbrook Primary School.

Dan Haydon will line up for the demanding event, which will see him tackle rough terrain and a total elevation gain of around 2,500 metres. He admitted the challenge could be “madness”, but said he has taken it on for a very good cause.

Dan who is not a regular runner, said he decided more than a year ago that he wanted to do something ambitious that he could be proud of, while also supporting his daughter Juliet’s school. He said the idea grew from conversations with family and friends and the challenge became a way of combining fitness, fundraising and a personal test of endurance.

He said the decision was also linked to wanting to keep fit for the future, especially as a father of four, but the main motivation was helping a school he believes does excellent work for children and the wider community.

Millbrook Primary School recently retained its outstanding Ofsted rating and Dan praised headteacher Ms Turner and deputy head Ms Ashton for their commitment to pupils. He said the school places a strong emphasis on special educational needs and disability provision, as well as outdoor learning through its Forest School.

A large part of that provision, he explained, depends on facilities that need maintaining and improving. The Forest School area takes up around a third of the school’s land and Dan said the yurt there needs rebuilding. He also said the landscaping is a constant job and that PTA volunteers and parents have recently built a chicken coop to give children another activity.

He added that outdoor learning plays an important role in children’s development, helping them spend time in fresh air and nature. With the school holidays under way, he said families are still helping to feed and care for the chickens, showing the level of community involvement around the school.

The fundraising target is a significant one. Dan said the school has identified a need for around £20,000, and he hopes to raise £5,000 of that total through his own efforts. So far, he has already raised about £2,500 from colleagues, work contacts and friends.

With the race just days away, he said he is focusing on rest, recovery and carbohydrate loading as he prepares for the challenge ahead. His training has involved gradually increasing distances, starting with marathon-length runs and building up to 50km on Easter Sunday, which he completed in around eight or nine hours with breaks.

He said that gives him confidence he can complete the full 100km within the time limit, even if the final miles are a struggle.

Although he has thought about major city marathons such as London and Manchester, he said the appeal of this event lies in the setting as much as the distance. Running through the Lake District, he said, offers the peace, scenery and connection to nature that fit well with Millbrook’s Forest School ethos.

Dan will complete the run on his own, after family and friends questioned his sanity when he first mentioned the idea! But he said he will keep himself going with music, podcasts and the support of the stopping points along the route.

Anyone wanting to support the fundraiser, please visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/peer-to-peer/miles-for-millbrook-100km-lake-district-ultra-challenge