Simon Williamson (KES 90-94) is an OE and a current parent; his three children now proudly following in his footsteps with one at KES Prep and two at KES Senior.

Over the past 12 years he has been on a huge fundraising journey, starting in 2013 when he set himself the challenge of raising money for Parkinson’s UK by running 100 different marathons. He successfully completed this in 2021, having raised an impressive £15,000.

During COVID, when only two people could train together, he ran with a different person each day for a month and this experience sparked the idea for #syrun365 — a challenge to run with a new running buddy every single day throughout 2024, covering a total of 2,920km, the equivalent of running from Southampton to Istanbul!

On New Year's Eve, Simon completed this extraordinary feat, crossing the finish line alongside his wife, cheered on by family and friends. Reflecting on the past year, he said: "It was wonderful to cross the finish line with my wife, who has been incredibly supportive of this challenge, which took me across the country, running with some truly inspiring and fascinating people."

This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support of the KES Prep, KES, and OE communities. Finding 366 different running partners (one for each day of the Leap Year) was no small task, but many children from Prep and KES, along with parents, OEs, and former classmates, stepped up to take part. KES Prep also played its part by entering three teams in the Romsey Relay Marathon, raising further funds for Parkinson’s UK. 

Simon’s determination and commitment have brought the KES community together in a truly inspiring way. In total, he has raised over £50,000 for Parkinson’s UK across both challenges — a truly remarkable achievement.