Homefield 10K for £10K: A Day of Spirit, Speed and Success!

And what a Sunday it was! The sun was out, the trainers were laced and our team brought an immense amount of heart to the course. Whether running, walking or cheering from the sidelines, the energy was electric. We took on this challenge with one clear goal: raising £10,000 to launch our new Homefield Community Hubs. These hubs will be vital spaces where autistic young people can connect, belong and truly thrive.

Here’s a look back at some of the highlights from an unforgettable day.

It’s not every day you see a CEO swapping the office for the race track, but our Principal Tracey did exactly that. Representing the campaign with pride, Tracey showed incredible determination and crossed the finish line with a glorious time of 1:24:58! Her participation perfectly captured the spirit of the day – pushing limits to support the students and the wider Homefield mission.

A massive congratulations to our youngest runner, Emily! Completing her first-ever 10K in an impressive 1:02:39, Emily (who is autistic and the daughter of Rebekah, our Head of Therapies) ran to ensure other young people have the support they need. She told us she is “very proud of her time” – and she certainly should be! She has even set her sights on running a marathon one day.

Eithne was our fastest Team Homefield runner on the day, fueled by a powerful personal mission. Her daughter, Finola, started at Homefield in 2020, has progressed through an apprenticeship into a paid role and is now a second-year university student! With an incredible finishing time of 00:53:24, Eithne ran because she knows firsthand how the right environment can transform a young person’s future.

Proof that you don’t have to break into a sprint to make an impact! Staff members Vikki (HR Manager) and Liz (SEND Tutor – Pathway 2 & 3) completed the course at a walking pace, proving that a good chat and a steady stride are just as effective for supporting the campaign and soaking up the community atmosphere.

A special shout-out to Jody (Health & Safety Co-Ordinator), who took the title of our fastest staff member on the day, with an incredible 00:57:06!

Did you catch us on BBC Radio Leicester? Before the big race, Chris (Vice-Principal), Rebekah (Head of Therapies) and Danni (HR & Business System Co-Ordinator – also joined by her son Arlo) sat down with Ady Dayman to talk about the heart behind our work.

Danni spoke powerfully about her lived experience as a parent of an autistic child, while the team explained how these Community Hubs will bring much-needed social and therapeutic support into local settings. It was a brilliant opportunity to share our mission with the whole county.

You can listen back to the interview here – we come in at the 2:44:13 timestamp.

Our team’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the local press! Staff members Vikki and Liz were featured in the Leicestershire Live coverage of the event. Speaking to reporters at the start line, Vikki highlighted why the Community Hubs are so essential, explaining that autistic young people often have nowhere to go outside of education hours.

It was wonderful to see our mission being shared with the wider city through their Leicester 10K gallery.

The race may be over, but the mission continues. We are so close to our goal and every pound raised goes directly toward building inclusive spaces for our students and the wider community.

If you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, the link will remain live until June.

Thank you to everyone who ran, walked, donated and cheered. You are helping us turn a big vision into a reality!