Latymer Upper School Head and former Governor take on cycling challenge to raise money for bursaries appeal

Congratulations to Latymer Upper School Head, David Goodhew and Professor Sir Jim Smith*, an alumnus and former School Governor, for completing a 100 mile cycle ride to raise money for the School’s bursary appeal* which affords a  Latymer education to bright students from all walks of life.

The pair decided to take on the challenge as part of the My RideLondon* weekend, during which thousands of people cycle to raise money for their chosen charity. 

David and Jim set off from the King Street entrance of the Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith early in the morning of Sunday 16 August. Their route took them past Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and Runnymede before finishing back at the school gates; by the end they had completed 102 miles in a respectable 6.5 hours!

David Goodhew, Head of Latymer Upper School said: “The Covid-19 crisis has widened the disadvantage gap that exists in our country, frustrating the progress made over the past decade.  Jim and I know firsthand the difference a good education can make which is why we were so determined to complete this cycle and raise these much needed funds for our Bursaries Appeal. This year we saw so many of our bursary students achieve exceptional results, enabling them to go to some of the world’s most prestigious universities to undertake courses they never dreamed possible. I want to widen these opportunities to more children which is why it was so vital that we achieve our ambition to be able to fund 1 in 4 of our students on a bursary by 2024.”

So far the pair have raised over £6,600. To donate simply go to their fundraising page.

*Professor Sir Jim Smith attended Latymer Upper School in the 1960 and 70s. He played a formative role in the development of the Francis Crick Institute, of which he became Director in 2015, before being made the Director of Science at the Wellcome Trust in 2016. In 2019 he was knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours for services to medical research and science education.

*The Latymer Upper School Bursaries Appeal launched in 2005. The appeal has so far financed the education of more than 50 young people. This extraordinary success is the result of many hundreds of gifts from all sections of the Latymer community: Latymerians past and present and their families, current and former staff and Governors, and friends of the School.

*The eighth edition of Prudential RideLondon was due to take place on 15 and 16 August 2020. Due to Covid-19 crisis the event could not go ahead as planned, but participants were able to still complete the challenge, but as individuals or in small groups, selecting a distance and route of their choice.  

Author: Karen Dove