our story
2018: Early days in Islington
The initiative started in 2018 at Thornhill Primary School in Islington, London.
Run Thornhill Run was created as a means to fill a significant school funding gap.
Through the months of planning and preparation Emily Bohill and her team realised they had created a blueprint for an event that:
- Enhances community engagement and spirit
- Gets kids and their parents fit
- Raises vital funds for their schools
Children are empowered to raise funds for their schools by collecting sponsorship from friends and family and local businesses are able to promote their firms whilst giving back to the communities they depend on.
2020: Run Kids Run is born
In 2020, after months of lockdown and school closures due to the Covid pandemic, the event expanded to include 5 neighbouring primary schools.
Run Kids Run was born and its first event was a socially distanced virtual run in July 2020.
Despite the rain and the pandemic, 400 children took part and the event raised over £40,000.
With the financial backing of corporate sponsor, Islington Square, and the generous donation from a private donor in the community, each participating school received £5,000 - a much needed resource in a Covid year.
2021: Going from strength to strength
Building on the success of 2020, Run Kids Run Islington expanded further to include 8 primary schools and held its biggest fundraising event in September 2021:
- 600 participating children
- £29k raised by the children through individual sponsorship
- £40k donated by corporate sponsor, Islington Square, and a private investor - i.e. £5,000 for each participating school.
The huge turnout at the event demonstrated the Islington community's willingness to come together. United over a common bond, the event tightened their connection and sense of belonging. With all 8 schools renewing their participation for 2022, Run Kids Run Islington is set to become one of the key recurring community fundraisers of the year.
2022 onwards: Reaching out to new communities
Run Kids Run was granted charitable status in late 2021 and received the backing of executive search firm, Bohill Partners.
Our ambition is to expand the initiative to more school communities across London and the UK. Building long lasting partnerships between these communities and corporate supporters will be at the heart of the charity's mission.
Watch out! A Run Kids Run event will be coming soon to a community near you!
our team
Grace Prendergast - Ambassador
Grace, originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, has had a remarkable career as a member of the New Zealand rowing team for over a decade. Her achievements include being a two-time Olympian, breaking three world records, and earning both Gold and Silver medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games. She was also triumphant in the prestigious Oxford vs. Cambridge Boat Race during her time studying for a Masters at the University of Cambridge. Having recently retired from professional sports, Grace now channels her expertise as a leadership development consultant in London. In her spare time she enjoys staying connected to the rowing community through activities such as commentating regattas including The Boat Race and Henley Royal Regatta. Her deep-rooted passion lies in the transformative power of sports and exercise, which she firmly believes in as a means to build confidence, foster unity, and create happy and healthy communities.
Emily Bohill
Emily is the Founder and Managing Partner at Bohill Partners, an executive search firm in the real assets industry. She created Run Kids Run in 2020 with the aim of connecting real estate corporate partners with school communities across the UK. Her passion for philanthropic causes expands across many other areas. She is Co-Chair of the Thornhill Primary School Foundation, Vice-chair of the Story of Christmas Board of Trustees, and a trustee of Ireland Funds Great Britain, a global philanthropic network to promote Irish-related causes, culture, education and community development.
Paloma Belaunde
Paloma is Head of Marketing and Impact at Bohill Partners and a trustee of Run Kids Run since 2021. She is driving the next phase of the charity's journey from a local Islington fundraising event to an established London-wide social impact initiative running various events per year. She has a finance and marketing background, having started her career in investment banking and spending 10 years in marketing managing key beauty brands at l'Oréal UK. She has always been an ardent supporter of the cause of education, serving as Parent Governor and chairing the PTA committee at Belleville Primary school in Battersea.
Adam Versteeg
Adam is a trustee of Run Kids Run, and has been our race day co-ordinator since the first Run Kids Run event in Islington. In his day job, he is Chief People Officer for a global defence intelligence company and is a former British Army infantry officer. A lifelong runner, Adam has taken part in over 30 marathons and ultra-marathons and is passionate about the huge impact which exercise can have on young people. In addition to his Run Kids Run role, Adam is also a trustee of the Thornhill School Association.
Linzi Hildesley
Linzi is part of the Impact Team at Bohill Partners driving the next phase of Run Kids Run's journey. Linzi’s background is in law and business development, having spent 12 years as a corporate lawyer and a further 8 years managing a business development team and having responsibility for key client programmes and all BD initiatives. She has three children and believes passionately in the power of education to transform lives. Linzi is a qualified yoga teacher and has given classes to children at her local primary school Our Lady & St Joseph.