After weeks in Covid-19 lockdown, stronger bonds were formed as members of St Paul’s boarding community spent their first weekend together running, chanting and pushing trailers as each house competed against each other to raise money for the charity, Flame Cambodia.
The goal of this year’s event was to raise $16,000 to keep the book tuk-tuk in operation in Cambodia, through Flame. The book tuk-tuk drives into the slums of Phnom Penh to deliver education to children who would otherwise never receive any.
Through the school’s partnership with Flame, St Paul’s students and staff travel to Phnom Penh each year to service the community alongside Flame upon the completion of the school year.
The annual St Paul’s Charity Relay was held on school grounds during the day of 23 May for the first time this year, which is historically held late afternoon and into the evening. Boarding students and staff dug deep to keep the relay going.
St Paul’s Reverend Peter Rickman was delighted with the sense of community.
“Weary bodies just kept going with all of the camaraderie. It was great to see people come together for Flame Cambodia and the book tuk-tuk,” he says.
Mrs Lilley was awarded best staff runner as she ran the furthest with 42km, and the best student award was given to Riley Wills (Year 11, Sargood) for his overall efforts throughout the day and running a marathon. Finn Watson, Luke Hanna, George McNeil, Taiki Lynn, Milan Hood, Dylan Thomas, Ollie Storey, Ben Haskell and Jack Caldwell also completed a marathon, while over 50 students completed a half-marathon.
Competition was stepped up between the houses this year, as themed laps kept runners entertained and the desire to be the best house kept legs moving. Themes included best house chant lap, house relay lap, a whole house lap, a trolley lap, a fast lap and a tuk-tuk lap which gave homage to the book tuk-tuk of Flame Cambodia. The total funds raised were more than $17,000.
