Former students of Aureus School in Didcot are preparing to embark on a three-day, 57-mile sponsored walk in support of a much-loved teacher diagnosed with a rare degenerative condition.
Carolyn Saul was forced to take early retirement after discovering that the debilitating symptoms she had been experiencing were caused by Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a progressive neurological disease sometimes confused with Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.
Following Ms Saul’s diagnosis, staff and students at Aureus selected the MSA Trust as their Charity of the Year. Among a series of planned fundraising initiatives is the sponsored walk by three Aureus alumni – Amelie, Bea and Holly.
The trio will set off from Rosebery School in Surrey, where Ms Saul spent the first 19 years of her teaching career, on Friday this week. They aim to complete the 57-mile journey over three days, arriving at Aureus School on Sunday 1 March.
At the finish line in Didcot, they will be welcomed by family, friends, staff and students in a show of solidarity and celebration for Ms Saul, who dedicated more than 25 years to GLF Schools, the multi-academy trust to which both Rosebery and Aureus belong.
Hannah Powell, Assistant Headteacher at Aureus, said:
“We have three students that used to come to Aureus that are doing a sponsored walk starting from Carolyn’s first school, which is Rosebery School in Surrey.
“They are doing a sponsored walk over three days, and on the third day they’re going to arrive back at Aureus. There’s going to be lots of banners and balloons to welcome them back, to celebrate, and to congratulate them on the fact that they’ve done this work for the MSA charity.
“We have got about 100 people coming, from parents to students to colleagues, and there’ll be afternoon tea and speeches to celebrate Carolyn as part of our ‘The Heart and Saul of Aureus’ event.”
In addition to fundraising, Aureus School is raising awareness of MSA through its support of the MSA Trust, which promotes understanding of the incurable condition believed to affect around 3,500 people in the UK.
Mrs Powell added:
“Carolyn has been an indispensable member of our team, and we were all heartbroken to learn of her diagnosis. She is truly remarkable, and her extensive knowledge of the community and deep affection for her students inspired us all.
“This will be an opportunity for us all to come together to celebrate Carolyn and to mark her retirement, as well as to raise funds for the MSA charity.”
