School heroes get in step to raise £13,600

WOODHEY High School came up with the idea of a 10,000 challenge to mark the retirement of one of their PE staff members.

The Ramsbottom school wanted to use this as an opportunity to raise money for charity Kidneys for Life and the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital’s renal unit - with £ 10,000 being the initial target. The total amount raised was £ 13,600, with the PE staff “completely blown away” by the response, along with community support.

Pupils were challenged to do 10,000 steps in two PE lessons.

Two pupils and a member of staff decided that their 10,000 challenge would be an impressive 10k run every day for 10 days.

This was the feat taken on by Eli Buckley in Year 9, Head of Humanities, Dave Savage, and Tilly Atkins in Year 7.

Brothers Albert and Charlie Proffitt completed 1,000 reps of exercises every day for 10 days. They raised over £ 200. Five girls that used to attend Woodhey walked a marathon over the Easter weekend.

Headteacher Brian Roadnight said: “It is quite amazing the compassion shown by the pupils and the whole community to raise this money at a time when we are all struggling within our own lives.

“The time, effort and physical exertion that pupils have put into the various challenges is incredible but also typical of our pupils.

“It is such a worthy charity and I hope that Woodhey’s fundraising will help individuals and families who are in need of this kind of support.”

Alder Grange in Rawtenstall also held a 10,000 challenge to mirror Woodhey’s, as well as a non uniform day.

All pupils brought £ 1, and raised nearly £ 300 in a chocolate raffle, while a cake sale raised nearly £ 200.

●● Year 9 girls Chloe Ardin, Ruby Swinney, Georgia Bergin, Zara Dodd and Isobel Yates all ran a 10k

●● Year 7 girls Katya Leontiff-Weale, Ivy Mill, Grace Bennett, Bella Eardley, Evie Bowden and Tilly Atkins all ran a 10k

●● Past pupils Annabel Turner, Lizzie Lucas, Erin Griffiths, Kate Graham and Kiera Lynchey walked a marathon

●● Eli Buckley, Dave Savage and Tilly Atkins managed to complete a 10k run every day for 10 days.

●● Stanley Hughes and Matthew Lowe in Year 11 completed 10,000 steps in one PE lesson.

●● Chloe Ardin and Anna Gisbourne in Year 9 completed 10,000 steps in one PE lesson.