CHILDREN will be walking alongside their teacher who plans to trek to all 18 special educational needs school in Essex.

Kierran Pearce, a teacher at Market Field School in Elmstead Market, has always been an advocate for helping children who need extra support.

He helped set up the multi schools council, which works to integrate mainstream and special schools to improve the education of all.

Next month he will walk to the 18 special educational needs schools around Essex - the equivalent of a marathon a day for five days.

Colchester-based company GFM has chosen Kierran’s cause as its charity of the year and staff have been raising funds to support him.

Promotional T-shirts have been made by KIM Software and the company will be filming the challenge.

Kierran said: “Morrisons in Harwich has let us stand outside and fundraise which was great. “Parents have been sharing our posts on Facebook, and the headteacher at Shorefields School in Clacton has also agreed to drive me to Harlow Fields for a 4am start on the Monday.”

Market Field School will hopefully be sending a group of children every day to join in the walk to support Kierran on his adventure.

He added: “There are 12 people so far confirmed to join us at various points on the walk including young ambassadors, staff from Essex County Council, headteachers, friends and family.” Kierran has been in training to tackle the challenge.

He said: “I have been out walking around my local area, been in the gym training the muscles in my legs, going on hill walks and we had a running machine donated to us by a parent from Market Field School.

“I have also cut out various things such as alcohol and caffeine to get as fit as I can as well as eating a lot of pasta and fruit.

“I am really excited and I hope we can raise as much awareness as possible.”

The challenge will take place from July 1 to July 5.

Kierran will start at Harlow Fields before covering Loughton, Chigwell, Brentwood, Basildon, Benfleet, Wickford, Billericay, Chelmsford, Witham, Braintree, Colchester, Langham and Clacton before arriving back at Elmstead Market.