‘WE WANT TO SHOW NHS WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM’

A GROUP of schoolchildren are building up a sweat in a challenge to complete nearly 12,000 squats and raise cash for the NHS.

Stafford Grammar teacher Carly Slater threw down the gauntlet to her year 7 class and having accepted the mammoth task, the youngsters set about tackling the daily squat routine in a bid to collect hundreds of pounds from sponsorships and improve their fitness into the bargain.

The 16 SGS youngsters, aged 11 to 12, watched a video demonstration by personal trainer Gregg Slater on the correct way to perform the exercise, before easing into the programme with 10 squats on the opening day of the challenge. The regime is getting tougher though with each student going to be doing 50 consecutive squats by the end of this month.

“It’s great to be doing this because normally we’d be getting an hour or so of

PE or sport in school, but now we’re stuck indoors at home. It’s good to get the exercise and also the money we get from it is going to the NHS charities, which really need our help right now,” said 12-year-old Harri Lillford-hunt, left.

Small groups within the form are staying connected online to encourage and motivate one another. Classmate Honor Sutton, right, added: “Anybody can do this because you don’t need equipment and you can do it inside or outside. My main hobby is horse riding, but unfortunately I don’t get the opportunity at the moment so it’s a good way of keeping me physically fit for when the stables open again. I’ve really enjoyed exercising while at the same time using technology to keep in touch with my friends. “We want to show the NHS that we’re all supporting them. It’s such a difficult time and they are making sure as many people as possible can survive.” To donate visit www. justgiving.com/fundraising/7a.