Story added: 24th July 2025

Hethersett pupils go the distance for their school and the Foundation at ‘Run Woodside’

On 3rd June, over 500 pupils from Hethersett Woodside Primary and Nursery School laced up their running shoes for ‘Run Woodside’, a joyful day of running and fundraising in partnership with the Community Sports Foundation.

The event – part of the Foundation’s Run Norwich 50/50 Fundraiser initiative – brought the spirit of the Norwich’s iconic city centre 10k to the school playing field. Throughout the school day 501 pupils, aged 2 to 11, took part in a sponsored run alongside their classmates, with the distance determined by their age group.

An impressive £5,682.30 was raised at Run Woodside, with the funds being equally split between Hethersett Woodside Primary and Nursery School (to go towards their outdoor learning project) and the Community Sports Foundation. A huge thank you and congratulations to all the pupils who took part and truly embraced the fundraising spirit! Special recognition goes to Ameya, who topped the leaderboard by raising an outstanding £250 — an amazing effort!

Despite a day of mixed weather, the enthusiasm and energy of all those taking part was phenomenal. From the pupils to the staff and teachers alike, everyone fully embraced the Run Norwich ethos – particularly as pupils cheered one another on.
Adding to the excitement was a visit from the Foundation’s beloved mascot Sportysaurus, who was on hand with celebratory high-fives as pupils crossed the finish line under the infamous Run Norwich gantry.

Claire Singleton, PE Lead at Hethersett Woodside, praised the event and the Foundation team saying:
“We had the amazing Foundation team in to help run our event and it was flawless from start to finish. The staff are all so professional, full of fun and really engaged all our children. The event was incredible and the sound of the children cheering each other on could be heard all day. Sporty came to add some extra fun and the children loved every minute of the event. The children are still talking about it, constantly running and we now even have a running club! We raised a great amount for the school and thoroughly enjoyed the whole event, build up and prizes!”

Reflecting on the success of the day, Emma Fletcher-Dungay, Head of Fundraising at the Foundation, said:
“Run Woodside was a fantastic example of what our Run Norwich 50/50 Fundraiser initiative is all about – engaging you people in the joy of movement, while raising money for brilliant local causes. It was wonderful to see every child, from the youngest in the nursery to the oldest in Year 6, taking part with such enthusiasm. We’re proud to help bring the Run Norwich spirit into schools across the county, and who knows – maybe we’ve inspired a few future Run Norwich runners too!”

To find out more about the Run Norwich 50/50 Fundraising Initiative for your school click the link below.