A teacher will attempt to run 100km in 12 hours to help finance a former pupil’s bid to raise awareness of human rights in one of the poorest parts of Africa.

Alan Mair, 50, head of religious education at Trinity High School in Woodford Green, has volunteered to run the gruelling Race to the Stones for Caroline Rose, who is hoping to head up a team helping charities support women and the disabled in Burkina Faso.

The 25-year-old must raise £800 to take the trip next month under the International Citizen Service scheme.

Miss Rose said: “He was very keen to help and, in fact, he suggested the idea of the run.”
“He is an inspiration.”

“He got me into international development when we went to our school trip to Bolivia and I’m taking it further now.”

The run starts in the Chilterns, Oxfordshire, and ends in the North Wessex Downs.

Mr Mair, who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro 23 times, said: “It is 12 hours of pain that pales into insignificance to the daily pain of those who suffer not only poverty but discrimination of the basis of their disability or gender.”

“In Bolivia, Caroline was a remarkable student, she showed clear empathy with all people, especially the poor. “It is fantastic that she has gone on to do this for her profession.”