GENEROUS pupils have raised thousands of pounds for charity after completing the equivalent of 18 marathons in an Eggstra special Easter Race for Life.
More than 470 pupils from West Park Academy, Darlington, walked, jogged or ran in aid of Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.
After a brisk wake and shake warm up, staff and pupils set off from the school yard for three laps of the playing fields on the one mile sponsored course.
Teaching assistant and lead for PE Caroline Black, who organised the event, said: “A lot of families in our school have been affected either directly or indirectly by cancer and everyone was keen to do something to help support Cancer Research UK.
“At West Park Academy we promote the spirit of the games, which are honesty, teamwork, respect, self-belief, determination and passion and each and every single student showed all of those values today.
“There was a lot of peer support for those pupils who found it harder than others and it was so nice to see everyone cheering each other to the finish line. I feel very proud of them all.”
All pupils completing the race were presented with a Race for Life medal, including nursery children who completed a toddle waddle across the school playground
The whole school then enjoyed an Easter Fair in the school grounds complete with cake, book and sweet stalls, an Easter egg tombola, a beat the goalie competition and stocks for pupils to throw wet sponges at the teachers.
Principal Samantha Hirst ,who volunteered to be placed in stocks donated by Fletcher Joinery, added: With the money raised from our race and a donation from the proceeds of our Easter Fair we have so far raised in excess of £1,300 for Cancer Research UK.
“One of our pupils, Sam Hardy, who lost his own battle with leukaemia in January last year, was very much in our thoughts during the run and I am so proud of what our children have accomplished today in his memory.
“It is staggering to think that collectively we have run over 480 miles which is the same as running the London Marathon 18 times an incredible achievement.”
Donations can be made via the Just Giving Page using the following link: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/west-park-academy.