Emma is General Counsel and the Director of Governance and Compliance at Sevenoaks School, and has two children at the school. She is a keen runner and a fan of all things health and wellbeing. In her spare time, Emma is learning Kyokushinkai Karate, a full contact karate with emphasis on intense physical and mental conditioning – all skills which will help her complete the half marathon.
Emma was inspired to work at Sevenoaks School due to its rich history in philanthropy, ambitious plans for admissions to be needs-blind, and provision of financial assistance for students with academic talent and drive who would not otherwise have the means or opportunity to develop them to the full.
“A SEVENOAKS EDUCATION IS A TRULY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, WHERE STUDENTS CAN FLOURISH IN AN INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT WHICH EQUIPS THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD. I AM DELIGHTED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF THE STORY OF WIDENING ACCESS TO THIS INCREDIBLE EDUCATION.” Emma
Jean-Pierre is a theatre director and has worked extensively in the West End, around the UK and internationally. Originally from South Africa, he has two boys at Sevenoaks, one in Lower Sixth and one in Year 10. He has run two half-marathons before but that was over 10 years ago – luckily he like’s running, just not in the rain!
“AS PARENTS AT THE SCHOOL WE HAVE BENEFITTED HUGELY FROM THE FOUNDATION. WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE AMAZING SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES THE SCHOOL HAS ENABLED OUR SONS TO HAVE, AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. I AM, THEREFORE, EXCITED AND GRATEFUL TO TRY AND GIVE A LITTLE SOMETHING BACK AND SUPPORT OTHER FAMILIES.” Jean-Pierre
Sandy strongly believes in giving more children the chance of a great education, regardless of their financial background.
Having grown up in Germany, where the education system is very different, Sandy has been struck by how lucky her own children are to benefit from the additional support and opportunities available through independent education — opportunities she herself never had growing up.
Sandy has lived in Germany, Australia and Spain, and moved to the UK for university after which she began her career in advertising. Sandy and her surgeon husband live in Tunbridge Wells, where her husband runs his own clinic and Sandy focuses on raising their three boys. Sandy’s eldest son recently moved into the Lower Sixth at Sevenoaks, where he is already making the most of everything the school has to offer.
Sandy has always enjoyed running – often accompanied by her springer spaniel Floppy.
“TRAINING FOR A HALF MARATHON, KNOWING IT WILL BE WATCHED AND SUPPORTED BY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE, WILL BE A REAL PERSONAL CHALLENGE. IT IS A SMALL EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF A MUCH BIGGER GOAL: HELPING TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE ACCESS AN EDUCATION THAT CAN OPEN DOORS AND CHANGE LIVES.” Sandy
Adventurer and entrepreneur Umit is the holder of five Guinness World Records including two achieved alongside fellow Sevenoaks parents: the longest journey by an electric vehicle (EV) on a single charge, and most countries visited by an EV on a single charge. He also manages the Sevenoaks parents’ running club, which makes this next challenge perfect for him!
Originally from Turkey and with a background in Mechanical Engineering, Umit has been Managing Director of a product development and outsourcing consultancy company for almost 15 years. He has a daughter in Year 11.
“SEVENOAKS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PLACE OF LEARNING AND ONE OF ITS GREAT STRENGTHS IS THE DIVERSITY OF ITS COMMUNITY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ACCESS TO AN EDUCATION OF THIS QUALITY SHOULD NOT BE DETERMINED BY FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. SUPPORTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE AND BENEFIT FROM EVERYTHING SEVENOAKS SCHOOL HAS TO OFFER.” Umit
David lives in Sevenoaks and is a parent to three children, with a son in Year 7. Having moved to the UK over 15 years ago from Ireland, he fell in love with Kent and can often be seen running around Knole Park in his free time, although he does wish Sevenoaks had less hills! He feels incredibly lucky that his son attends such an amazing school and receives an education that will take him way beyond those hills of Sevenoaks.
As a keen runner, with a number of marathons under his belt, this should hopefully be an enjoyable challenge to take on and a chance to take in the wonderful sights and sounds of London. David says, “It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you run, or even if you make it across the finish line in one piece, it only matters that you were prepared to show up at the start line and give it a go, and if you can do it for a worthy cause, so much the better!”
“SUPPORTING BURSARIES IS A WORTHY CAUSE; I BELIEVE HELPING THOSE WHO ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS OURSELVES IS THE WAY TO MAKE OUR SOCIETY FAIRER AND BETTER, IN THE LONG RUN, FOR ALL OF US.” David
Isabella studied at Sevenoaks School as an international boarder in Girls International House (GIH). She has a degree in Arabic and French from UCL and a Masters in Management from Imperial College London. Having lived in London for 16 years, Isabella relocated to Switzerland and now runs her own wellness business alongside her work as an energy transition policy consultant.
Isabella will be running alongside her best friend and former GIH roommate, Sofia. Having shared the highs and lows of boarding school life they remain the best of friends more than 20 years later, making this challenge especially meaningful to take on together. Isabella is passionate about hiking and trail running. Currently training at 1,000m+ altitude and in cold winter temperatures, she is certainly committed!
“THE TWO YEARS I SPENT AT SEVENOAKS SHAPED ME DEEPLY, CREATING LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS WITH PEERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND INSTILLING VALUES OF CURIOSITY, INDEPENDENT THINKING AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE THAT CONTINUE TO GUIDE ME TODAY. THIS RUN IS MY WAY OF GIVING BACK AND HELPING TO PAY FORWARD THE LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE I HAD AT SEVENOAKS SCHOOL, SO THAT ANOTHER STUDENT CAN BENEFIT FROM THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATION AND SENSE OF BELONGING.” Isabella
Sofia came to Sevenoaks in 2005 to study the IB and lived in Girls International House (GIH) until 2007. She holds a PhD in the History of Art and has spent the last five years working at Sotheby’s, currently as Associate Specialist in Impressionist and Modern Art.
She says: “As a foreign student from a very different culture, I didn’t fully realise just how much of an opportunity Sevenoaks represented – and how lucky I was that my family could afford to send me there. Attending Sevenoaks was life-changing – from the ways it helped me grow into the adult I am today, to the deep and lasting friendships I formed while there.”
One of those friendships was with her roommate Isabella, who is taking on the London Landmarks challenge alongside her. Raising money through running is especially fitting; Sofia first tried cross-country at Sevenoaks and has carried the importance of doing sports for personal growth and enjoyment with her ever since.
Sofia is excited to be raising money for financial assistance that will allow students of all backgrounds to access a first-class education.
“IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HELP SOMEONE, WHO AT THE MOMENT MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE SEVENOAKS IS WITHIN THEIR GRASP, TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY I HAD.” Sofia
Henry left Sevenoaks in 2023, having spent seven years boarding at Lambardes and then School House. With a sister in her final year here, and an Old Sennockian father, Henry has a strong connection to the Sevenoaks community and feels honoured to be part of the London Landmarks team.
Henry recently completed the Robin Hood Nottingham Half Marathon back in September and looks forward to competing in his second. Whilst it will be mentally and physically challenging, it reminded him of the power of self-belief and resolve, lessons no doubt learned and honed during his time at Sevenoaks.
“SEVENOAKS WAS, AND STILL IS, A HUGE PART OF MY JOURNEY. IT GAVE ME OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHAPED WHO I AM TODAY AND I’M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THAT’S WHY I BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN RAISING FUNDS TO HELP PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, WITH FINANCIAL SITUATIONS LESS FORTUNATE THAN MINE, TO ACCESS THE SAME AMAZING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE I WAS GIVEN.” Henry
Lucy graduated from Sevenoaks in 1998, having studied from the age of 11 as a day pupil and then as a boarder in Sennocke House while her parents lived in Ethiopia.
Lucy worked in Financial Services for 10 years before moving into recruitment. This gave her the opportunity to live and work in Singapore for eight years where she first took up running. She is now London-based and looking forward to taking on the iconic London Landmarks half marathon course.
“HAVING SEEN FIRST-HAND THE BENEFITS OF ASSISTED PLACES, THIS IS A CAUSE CLOSE TO MY HEART AND I’M EXCITED TO BE RAISING MONEY FOR THE SEVENOAKS SCHOOL FOUNDATION. I HAVE RUN HALF-MARATHONS IN ASIA BUT NEVER ON HOME SOIL SO I’M THRILLED TO BE TAKING ON THIS CHALLENGE.” Lucy
