A teaching assistant will walk 26.2 miles in one day to raise money for a new accessible school minibus.

Kim Richards, who works at Central Hub Brighton, will walk from Bognor to Brighton on June 21.

The 36-year-old is hoping to raise enough money to help the school fund an accessible Sunshine Coach from the children's charity Variety.

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Kim has worked at the learning centre in Lynchet Close for the last two years.

The facility provides alternative learning spaces for children who cannot attend mainstream school for various reasons including illness, mental health and behavioural problems.

Kim said raising enough money to get a specially adapted, accessible minibus coach would make school trips easier, especially as its current coach is "just holding itself together".

She said: “The pupils are very eager to get involved and love the idea of myself and my teammates walking from Bognor to Brighton.

“My inspiration has been our pupils here. We take them out on weekly trips and unfortunately, that weekly experience for them can get off on the wrong foot with our current minibus, especially if it’s rained or it’s cold. The seats can get wet and the roof leaks.

“I would just love for our children to be in the comfort of a warm, dry minibus and for them to be starting their trips in the right way."

Kim said the bus would be a big help for the children and give them more learning opportunities.

She said: “I feel as an alternative provision, we get the opportunity to offer our pupils a more bespoke way of learning and our outside learning is very important to not only our pupils, but to us too.

"Giving them a new minibus would really fill me with joy, just to know they are comfortable, dry and warm and that we could move these trips further afield in the near future: how amazing that would be for our young people.”

Kim will be walking with team mates Del Woodward, 29, and Justin Cole, 43.

More information about her fundraiser can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/page/kim-richards-1717590246157.

Assistant heads of the Central Hub Rosie Reekie and Penny Langridge, along with other support staff, will join the trio at various points throughout the day to show support.

Headteacher Tim Self is supporting Kim, who came up with the idea at the start of the school year, and has been keen to get the pupils involved in the fundraising efforts.

The students will join Kim and walk some of the route before enjoying a picnic.

Although Sunshine Coaches are mostly funded by sponsors, including companies, trusts, foundations and individuals, schools are asked to contribute a small percentage towards a coach.

Kim is aiming to raise £5,000 towards the school’s contribution. The rest will be funded by a sponsor and the school.