My name is Emma Rose, I ve worked with Children and Families for approximately , 20 years. I’m incredibly proud to share that my son, Lewis, is running the Great West Run, 24th May 2026 to raise money for a cause very close to our hearts.

We are fundraising to support a school in Busua, West Ghana, where many children face daily challenges due to a lack of essential equipment, clothing, and educational materials. Despite these difficulties, the children show remarkable resilience, enthusiasm, and a deep desire to learn. My husband and I, Steven Rose were fortunate enough to visit this village and work in the school , back in February 2026.

❤️ Why We’re Raising Funds

The school children urgently needs:

Basic clothing for children who come to school without proper shoes or uniforms

School supplies such as pens, notebooks, backpacks but most importantly, Text books. These are not supplied free to the children

Ghana’s free education policies aim to remove the financial barriers that prevent children from accessing school, but in reality, families’ financial circumstances still play a major role in determining what a child brings to the classroom and how well they can participate. The government’s Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education policy removed some budgetary obstacles at the primary level, and the Free Senior High School programme eliminated tuition, feeding, and textbook fees for secondary students, leading to a significant increase in enrolment across the country. Despite these intentions, families continue to bear the cost of essential items such as uniforms, shoes, stationery, school bags, and transport, all of which remain outside the scope of government support.

For many children in Busua, attending school means walking in without shoes, sharing textbooks among several classmates, and learning in environments where classrooms are overcrowded and under-resourced. Some come to school hungry, unable to focus, and others miss days at a time due to preventable illnesses that go untreated due to lack of local healthcare. These realities reflect national research indicating that while tuition-free schooling expands access, it does not eliminate systemic inequalities shaped by poverty, limited infrastructure, and ongoing resource deficits. Despite these hardships, children in Busua are known to be deeply appreciative of even small donations

In short, while education in Ghana is officially “free,” the lived experience for children—especially in rural places like Busua—reveals a very different picture. Families shoulder costs they cannot afford, government support does not fully meet practical needs, and children continue to face avoidable obstacles that affect their confidence, wellbeing, and engagement in school. Fundraising efforts that provide clothing, equipment, and supplies play a vital role in filling this gap

Caning is still widely used within the school and I witnessed this happening when the children didn’t have the right equipment which clearly, wasn’t of their own doing.

Here are some pictures of the village, children in school and our experiences.

In short, while education in Ghana is officially “free,” the lived experience for children especially in rural places like Busua reveals a very different picture. Families shoulder costs they cannot afford, government support does not fully meet practical needs, and children continue to face avoidable obstacles that affect their confidence, wellbeing, and engagement in school. Fundraising efforts that provide clothing, equipment, and supplies play a vital role in filling this gap

‍♂️ Why a half Marathon?

My son wanted to contribute in a meaningful and personal way. Running a half marathon is his way of saying:

“If these children can overcome so much every day just to get an education, I can push myself to run 13 miles for them”

Where the Money Will Go

Every penny raised will be used to purchase: Clothing and shoes

School bags and stationery, Educational materials – Especially Textbooks

We will provide updates, photos, and receipts so donors can see the real impact of their generosity. I am planning to hopefully take these resources back out to Ghana to deliver directly to the project run by Dina or send the funds for purchases to https://beacons.ai/growwithusv? utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

How You Can Help

Please consider donating — no amount is too small. If you can’t donate, sharing this page with others would help us tremendously.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and support their future. After spending time in this wonderful community, where they welcomed us with open hearts, we feel compelled to support their village

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

Emma Rose and Lewis Williams