Yahoo News Head teacher of Sunderland school set to take on Great North Run for Missing People charity
The head teacher of a Sunderland school is set to take on the Great North Run for a charity close to his heart.
Jonathan Blower is the newly-appointed head teacher of a school that is under the management of Hexagon Care Services in the city. The specialist independent school educates pupils between the ages of eight to 18 who have a range of complex needs, and may have struggled in previous education placements.
Originally from Lemington Spa, Jonathan studied at Sunderland University in the 1990s, but returned to the midlands after his studies and worked at a number of schools. But the 51-year-old has now returned to the North East to take up his head position, and after completing the London Marathon twice before, has decided to undertake the Great North Run in September.
Due to a long teaching career dealing with children with complex needs, Jonathan has experience of dealing with youths who have run away from home - and he knows how invaluable the work of the Missing People charity is. The charity is the only one in the UK that provides a lifeline to those affected by a disappearance or thinking of going missing.
Jonathan, who lives in Jesmond with his partner Claire and black Labrador, Lucy, said: "Last summer a headship came up at a new school in Sunderland and so I relocated back to the North East. Having done the London Marathon twice, I thought it would be good to do the Great North Run as I believe it sets a good example.
"Having had experience in pastoral settings in previous schools, I know that people can go missing due to mental health issues or just feeling like they've got nobody to turn to. Having gone through that on a couple of occasions with children who have gone missing or run away from home, you realise what a great job the charity does to get them returned to their homes and give them the help and support they need.
"One girl in particular went missing when she was 12 years old and she was returned. She's now at university. Even £40 or £50 will actually get family support in terms of counselling. £100 would allow the charity to employ people to investigate where children have gone missing."
Jonathan added: "A child going missing, surprisingly, isn't actually uncommon. Every child I've known to have gone missing has actually been returned."
Jonathan ran the 2021 London Marathon and raised a massive £3,000 for Missing People. This time round, he's hoping to raise £1,000 and has set up a JustGiving page. Anyone wanting to donate, can do so here.
