ELITE athletes are being invited to help with fitness training at Bingley Grammar School's link school in Kenya, thanks to a fund-raising effort.

Jamil Parapia, running coach and director of languages at Bingley, agreed to help Kenyan distance runner Jackson Kipkoech Biwott with his training and also find him a race in Yorkshire in which to compete.

Bingley's link with Jamhuri High School in Nairobi will be used to help Jackson with his running, supported by Brewin Dolphin Investment Management.

Jackson is hoping to compete in the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon next October and he recently met the elite qualifying standard by running 2hr 23min in the searing heat of Kisumu, next to Lake Victoria.

A fund-raising event was held at the Aagrah Restaurant in Shipley, which yielded £800 for the project.

Some of the money will be used to support sport at Jamhuri High School by inviting elite Kenyan athletes to help rugby students with fitness training and inspiring them to aim high.

Staff at Bingley Grammar have twice visited Jamhuri High School and earlier this year they ran a rugby leadership programme there.

With some of the students not having boots, Bingley Grammar School director of PE Ben McGregor launched a Boots for Africa campaign.

Many students and teachers brought in used rugby boots, which were taken to Kenya and donated to the school.

Students have also been making dresses out of pillow cases for the girl students at Jamhuri.

The fund-raising event was organised by Jamil's father Professor Liaket Parapia, a former student at Jamhuri, who has been instrumental in assisting with the link.

Professor Parapia recently retired as a consultant haematologist.

Staff of the school, as well as friends and associates of Professor Parapia – who have supported his fund-raising projects for a range of charities over the years – attended the event.

For further information about the project, contact jamil.parapia@bingleygrammar.org.