Two school principals raised R5 500 for needy pupils by running a marathon.

Sentinel Primary School vice principal Debbie de Jagger and Llandudno Primary School principal Alexander Molteno ran the annual Chapman’s Peak 21.1km Half Marathon on Sunday September 22 to raise the money (“Principals tackle marathon to raise funds,” Sentinel September 13).

Mr Molteno said he and Ms De Jagger had both found the marathon quite gruelling, and the route had tested their endurance.

“Having never run a half marathon before, I was grateful that my fitness level carried me through, allowing me to finish in two hours.

“I was fortunate to run alongside an awesome race partner, Ms De Jagger, and we had one goal - to start and not stop until we were done.”

The most challenging part of the race had been the climb from Noordhoek back up Chapman’s Peak, he said.

“A huge thank you to their volunteers who kept us going with water and those 'far bars' along the way. Their support made all the difference.”

He said two Llandudno Primary Grade 2s, Max Giovannini and Matthew Cherrington, had raised R324 to sponsor him by baking muffins and performing magic tricks.

“I was so impressed by their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication. A really special moment was when two learners at the school met me at the end of the race and ran across the finish line with me. I was so proud of them.”

There are plans for both principals to lace up their running shoes for next year’s marathon, according to Ms De Jagger.

“My goal is to run the Chapman’s Peak Half-Marathon every year to raise funds for disadvantaged learners to attend Llandudno Primary School. I’m inviting all parents and community members to join me next year so we can triple the raised funds for our kids,” Mr Molteno said.

Max Giovannini and Matthew Cherrington baked muffins to sponsor their principal’s fund-raising marathon run.