Follow the Exciting Journey of Our Run Team in the Hastings Half Marathon: Supporting Education Futures Trust for Literacy and Speech & Language in local primary schools!

This year, we are thrilled to sponsor the Hastings Half Marathon, a key event in the running calendar and a popular choice for athletes preparing for spring marathons. Our aim is to participate in this incredible race while raising awareness and support for a local charity, Education Futures Trust (EFT). EFT plays a crucial role in providing essential literacy and speech and language support in primary schools throughout Hastings and Rother, helping young learners reach their full potential.

The journey of our running team extends far beyond just putting on running shoes and hitting the pavement. It’s about engaging with the community and making a genuine impact in the lives of children. In this article, we will share inspiring stories from our runners and highlight the invaluable work being done by EFT!

Literacy and Speech and Language in Schools: About the Hastings Half Marathon.

The Hastings Half Marathon has become a signature event in East Sussex, known for its hills and supportive atmosphere. With around 3,000 participants expected this year on the 23rd March 2025, it’s more than just a race; it’s a celebration of community, health, and unity.

Runners range from seasoned athletes to enthusiastic newcomers, all coming together to conquer the challenging 13.1-mile course. Each step contributes not only to personal fitness goals but also to raising funds and awareness for local charitable causes.

Unlocking Communication: The Power of a Speech & Language Programme in Primary Schools.

EFT's "Talking in the Tipi"

Communication is at the heart of human connection, shaping our relationships, education, and personal development. For individuals facing speech and language difficulties, the journey to effective communication can be challenging. However, with the right support and guidance, remarkable progress can be achieved. This is where EFT's Speech & Language Programme plays a crucial role.

EFT provide structured 1-2-1 interventions designed to support up to 10 children, at any one time, experiencing challenges with speech, language, and communication addressing a range of difficulties such as speech delays, articulation disorders, language comprehension issues, and social communication challenges.

EFT believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to communicate with confidence. However, delivering high-quality speech and language services requires resources, professional expertise, and community support. Your generous donation can help provide therapy sessions, educational materials, and assistive technology to individuals who need them most.

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Your support can change lives by helping children find their voice and ensuring that no one is left behind due to speech and language barriers.

Join EFT in making a lasting impact. Donate today and help support this vital work.

Introducing 3D Recruit & EFT Hastings Half Marathon Runners!

Our committed run team is made up of determined individuals, each with their own unique stories and reasonsfor participating. Here are some of their inspiring journeys:

Katie's Journey: Running for Reading

Katie taking on the Seven Sisters at the Beachy Head 10k in October 2023.

Katie, Senior Primary Education Recruitment Consultant at 3D Recruit, joined our run team to support EFT's Literacy and Speech & Language provision. Katie has taken part in shorter races before, however the 13.1 mile distance of the half marathon will be a new challenge for her. Although Katie has found the training tough at times, she has got a lot from it and enjoyed seeing the progress each week and this has kept motivation levels high! Katie has coped with balancing work, life and running by setting herself weekly goals and finding a running buddy to stay accountable.

Catherine's Story: Overcoming Challenges

Catherine has been training for her biggest challenge yet!

Catherine, Head of Technology & Innovation at 3D Recruit, is also taking on the half marathon distance for the first time. Catherine has two main reasons for running: "The first, I turned 30 this year and to mark the milestone in age I can't think of anything better than to prove to myself that I'm the fittest I've ever been and to get a medal in the mix! Secondly, to support Educations Futures Trust in their phenomenal work with children and adults, particularly the support they offer to children with social anxiety and who have difficulty with reading and writing".

Heidi's story: Going for the double

Heidi, Finance Officer at 3D Recruit, is no stranger to the Hastings Half, having completed the distance a few years ago. Having watched her Dad take part in the race as a child, Heidi had always wanted to carry on the family tradition and complete it herself. Her motivation for running in this years event is "to see if I could do it again. I did it once and loved it trained for it again then got Covid a few days before the race. It's always nagged me that I should try again". Heidi has been balancing work, two teenagers and her training and says she has found training "really hard this time round - I can't seem to get past 5k without stopping and each time my legs hurt in different places despite the stretching. Despite the challenges that half marathon training gives, Heidi is not being too hard on herself and says "if I have to walk I will walk at least I am still getting those steps in".

Good luck to Katie, Catherine, Heidi and the rest of the 3D Recruit & EFT Run Team!

Join the Movement!

For more information on the race, please head over to Nice Work Race Management.

Let’s get excited and make this years edition of the Hastings Half Marathon a memorable one!