Walsall teacher takes on 100-mile challenge to mark birthday month
A teacher from the Black Country is running 100 miles to mark her birthday amid lockdown – and improve her mental health.
Savina Raju, head of science at Joseph Leckie Academy in Walsall, had the idea as she wanted to challenge herself.
Now she is hoping to inspire others to keep fit – and is training to take on a half marathon when lockdown ends.
Mrs Raju said: "I'm a teacher and all of our students are on lockdown at the minute.
"For my birthday month, I thought I would do 100 miles – which would see me run past the school I work at.
"It was for my own mental health, the '100 miles in May' challenge, to keep fit and to encourage others to do the same.
"I thought I would do it just to show I can do it – it's very easy to stay indoors and get down, not seeing family or friends.
"And whilst I'm doing it I'm seeing a lot of our students, their families and people from the area who are encouraging me to keep going.
"I see them frequently and it's really nice."
The 42-year-old, who turns 43 on Wednesday, took up running at the Walsall Arboretum park-run in February last year.
"I've been able to get through it ok – I wanted to improve my fitness during the unprecedented times," she added.
The last three miles of her challenge will take place on May 31 at Walsall Arboretum at 2pm.
People have been encouraged to visit to cheer her on – while following the Government's coronavirus rules.
Updates on her challenge have been posted on her social media pages.
