From the 20-23 June 2026, a group of students will be taking part in the Eric Liddell 102: Berlin x The Hague Peace Run, a student-led international endurance and enterprise project, combining physical challenge, historical reflection, and social impact.
The project builds on Eltham College’s growing relationship with the Personal Best Foundation and the legacy of Old Elthamian Eric Liddell, marking both 102 years since Liddell’s gold medal victory at the 1924 Paris Olympics and 90 years since the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.
The relay links key historical sites from the 1936 Berlin Olympics to The Hague, a global centre of peace and justice, and builds on the programme of international runs we initiated in 2024 to commemorate Eric Liddell’s famed 1924 Paris Olympic victory. Beginning with the 680‑mile Eric Liddell relay run from Paris to St Andrews, we continued the programme in 2025 with peace‑focused running events linked to a visit to Weifang, China, the location of the Japanese internment camp where Liddell was held during the Second World War and where he died in 1945. This latest chapter marks Liddell’s role as coach of China’s Olympic team, celebrating sport as a force for peace. It will culminate in a final run on the beach, recreating the iconic opening sequence from Chariots of Fire as a symbolic tribute to Eric Liddell and his values.
Alongside commemorating Liddell’s legacy, the students will be raising funds for our partners, the Personal Best Foundation. The charity empowers young people through sport and character development, helping them build resilience, confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.
We will be sharing updates from the Peace Run across our newsletters and social media channels. Any support for the students’ fundraising efforts would be greatly appreciated as they undertake this inspiring challenge in honour of one of the College’s most remarkable alumni.
If you would like to support their fundraising efforts, donations can be made here.