The Blandford School Community Completes Epic LEJOG Challenge and Celebrates with Family Day
Students, staff, families and the wider community come together for a remarkable challenge supporting two important charities
The Blandford School community has successfully completed its ambitious TBS Does LEJOG Challenge, bringing together students, staff, families and the wider community in an incredible display of teamwork, determination and community spirit.
The challenge saw participants collectively complete the equivalent distance from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, with people walking, running and cycling throughout the event. The original target was to cover 1,400 kilometres, but thanks to the incredible commitment of everyone involved, the community went above and beyond, completing an outstanding 2,026 kilometres.
The achievement demonstrated the enthusiasm, resilience and determination of everyone who took part, with students, staff, families and friends all playing their part in helping the school travel the distance and reach this amazing milestone.
The challenge was organised to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get active, work together and achieve something extraordinary as a school community, while also raising money and awareness for two very important charities — Teddy20, which supports children and families affected by cancer, and Andy’s Man Club, which provides a safe space for men to talk openly and access support around mental health.
Throughout the challenge, participants supported one another, celebrated milestones and showed that every contribution counted. A special highlight was the 7km turning point at The Black Cat Café, Gains Cross, where participants were welcomed, looked after and encouraged by the team. Their generosity and hospitality provided a fantastic boost for everyone taking part and helped make the journey even more memorable.
The success of the event was made possible through the dedication of the school’s PE department, with particular thanks to Head of PE, Niall Clinton, for bringing the challenge to life and inspiring the whole school community to get involved.
The fundraising pages remain open for those wishing to support these fantastic causes:
TBS Does LEJOG 2026 – Teddy20 fundraising page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/tbsdoes26teddy20
TBS Does LEJOG 2026 – Andy’s Man Club fundraising page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/theblandfordschool-tbsdoes26andysmanclub
A Family Day to Remember
To celebrate completing the challenge, The Blandford School hosted a Family Day, bringing students, families, staff and the wider community together for a fantastic day of entertainment, activities and celebration.
The event was made even more special thanks to the incredible generosity of local businesses, who supported a fantastic raffle with a wide range of prizes. A particular highlight was the opportunity to win two England v Spain tickets at Wembley, generously donated by Riverside Travel, which created huge excitement among attendees.
Visitors were also treated to an exciting preview of “Spectacular – A Night at the Musicals”, the school’s upcoming production in October 2026, with students showcasing the incredible talent and creativity within Blandford Performing Arts.
The day was filled with live music and performances, with the Stour Valley Band and Circus of Thieves providing fantastic entertainment throughout the event. Guests were also able to enjoy a range of workshops and performances from Phoenix Ariel, who brought energy, creativity and excitement to the day.
The Family Day was a wonderful celebration of everything that makes The Blandford School community so special — showcasing the talents of our students, the support of local organisations and the incredible contribution of families, staff and community partners.
The event was captured beautifully by Rob Young of RY Images, who generously donated his time and expertise by taking fantastic photographs of the day completely free of charge. His images have helped preserve the memories of this incredible community achievement.
A spokesperson for The Blandford School said:
"The LEJOG Challenge has been an incredible example of what can be achieved when our community comes together. The determination, enthusiasm and support shown by students, staff, families and our local partners has been truly inspiring. We set out to complete 1,400 kilometres and to finish on 2,026 kilometres is an amazing achievement. The Family Day was the perfect way to celebrate, bringing everyone together to enjoy performances, activities and the amazing talents within our community."
The Blandford School would like to thank everyone who participated, volunteered, donated and supported the event — including The Black Cat Café, Riverside Travel, Phoenix Ariel, Stour Valley Band, Circus of Thieves, Rob Young of RY Images and all the local businesses who contributed raffle prizes.
Together, the community has shown that with teamwork, determination and a shared purpose, we really can go the extra mile.
