News

One of our Royal School Manchester students is running to raise £2,500 to take his classmates on school trips.

Daniel Snee, aged 16, from Fixby, Huddersfield, is deafblind and also has severe development delay, severe autism, sensory processing dysfunction, epilepsy and no speech.

As part of his silver Duke of Edinburgh award, Dan is combining the sport and charity sections in a sponsored run. The fund will provide for trips and experiences his class friends might not be able to access otherwise.

Allyson Taylor, a teacher at RSM, said: “Dan can’t see details and has reduced lower field of vision, which means he can’t see his feet unless he moves his head right down and concentrates for a while. Running independently is a huge achievement for him. It helps him to focus and his vision appears to be improving as a result. It also helps him to concentrate in school.”

Dan used to run on the Middlewood Way, a former railway route between Marple and Macclesfield, but it could be unsafe for him as the path is not well defined enough for his impaired vision.

He can, however, see the red of an athletics track with its white lines and the contrast of the grass. Following these, he can run without the need for a sighted guide.

His mum Michelle said: “Daniel loves to run - so much so that he outruns his parents, older sisters, school teachers and staff. I don’t understand the science but it really is fantastic seeing Dan do something he enjoys and which, ultimately, helps his development. It is so exciting.”

He will be running as far as he can, along with his learning support team, at the athletics track in Woodbank Park, Stockport.

Michelle said: “Dan has had the most amazing three years at the Royal School Manchester and he is very fortunate to be able to give something back to his friends and community. He can only take part in DofE because of the dedicated, creative and talented staff at Seashell Trust. When he was much younger, we never would have thought he would be able to achieve so much - at school and via the Duke of Edinburgh scheme - just look at him now. We are so incredibly proud of him.”

Allyson added: “Daniel has a wonderful supportive family who are keen to give him opportunity to grow as an able young man. Now Daniel is using the Duke of Edinburgh award to raise money for his friends to give them opportunities to be able to fulfil their dreams.”

To sponsor Dan please go to: www.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielSnee

To see Dan in action at the track go to: www.youtube.com/user/SeashellTrust1823