Sturminster Newton teenagers raise money for school prom

Josh Twist and his friend Ben laced up their running shoes and competed in an ultramarathon of 64 miles from Stourhead to Hengistbury Head along the Stour Valley Way.

The duo passed Gillingham, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Wimborne and were joined by two other students for a leg of the challenge.

(Image: Josh Twist)

Both students created a fundraiser to lower the price of prom tickets at Sturminster Newton High School.

Josh said: “It was very long and very wet. It took us roughly 22 and a half hours to complete the 64 mile route, and that took us through some of the nicest areas of Dorset, although admittedly not so nice at night and underwater.

“Our biggest challenge was definitely the flooding, as we experienced some really heavy rainfall just before we set off. We got wet feet a few times, but by far the worst was around Stour Park in Ensbury, where we went wading up to our knees at 4am."

Ben added: “We decided to raise money for prom because we fancied undertaking the challenge anyway and agreed we could get sponsored to walk the Stour Valley Way in one hit.

“We chose to raise money for prom because we believed it would have the greatest impact on our year 13 classmates helping us to have an amazing celebration of our time at SNHS.

“The target of the fundraiser is to lower the cost of a ticket for prom whilst also ensuring the quality of the night remains high so that everybody in the year 13 has access to the prom.”

Sam Ling, executive head of sixth form, said: "We're extremely proud of the efforts Josh and Ben made to push themselves and support the wider year group raising such a remarkable amount.

"After an approved short mornings rest the pair were right back to their lessons, almost certainly thinking up what their next adventure might be."

So far, £555 has been raised through the fundraiser.

Donations can be made via Josh’s JustGiving titled: ‘I’m raising £750 to Support the Sturminster Newton Year 13 Prom 2025’.