Nessir and Tariq training in Lillie Rec. There’s another pic of the pair if you go to their fundraising page
Two PE teachers at Fulham Cross Academy are attempting their first marathons for a good cause this month.
Nessir Emadi and Tariq Kavanagh, who work on improving fitness among students at the co-ed secondary school in Kingwood Road, Fulham, will raise money for the charity Lives Not Knives.
Nessir, 43, has been at the school for 16 years... and actually taught Tariq, 23, a former pupil and head boy, who returned to the academy as a PE teacher two years ago and is now Head of PE.
The charity is dear to both of them, as they each know young people who have died as a result of stabbing.
They are taking part in the Thames Meander marathon on Saturday 12 March, following the river towpath from Kingston, via Richmond to Barnes.
"Lives Not Knives is a youth-led charity for young people in London which works to prevent knife crime and stop youth violence and antisocial behaviour," explained Tariq. "Sadly we've both experienced first-hand the effects knife violence can have in our communities."
They have been training every week after school in parks in Hammersmith & Fulham, doing a couple of 13-mile half-marathon runs, following a schedule designed for first-timers.
"Training's been going well," said Nessir, who said the idea came about when academy head Alan Jones challenged staff to push their boundaries. "I thought we'd try a 10k or half marathon, but Tariq went a bit overboard and said we'd do a marathon! But I am now looking forward to it!"
The pair are still looking for support on their way to a fundraising target of £1,000.
Lives Not Knives tackles school exclusions and youth violence by engaging with disadvantaged young people aged nine to 14 via one-to-one mentoring, roadshows, after-school clubs and summer activities. It was founded in 2007 in response to a rise in gang culture in London.
Get active?
If you're interested in getting involved in a running club in H&F, check out the Thames Valley Harriers. The club – based in Wormwood Scrubs – is a home for athletes of all abilities.
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