YOUNGSTERS proved good sports when they combined fitness with fundraising.

Lots of Wyedean children took part in Sport Relief events last week, including the Nation’s Billion Steps Challenge.

All the pupils from Ysgol y Ffin in Caldicot ran a daily mile around the school playing field, raising the nation’s total steps by a whopping 1,400,000 over the course of Sport Relief, helping to smash the national target of a billion steps per day.

Even Year Two pupil Ava Lewis didn’t let a plaster cast and crutches stand in her way and completed her quota of steps on the hardstanding part of the school yard.

Year Six pupils encouraged the younger children, some as young as four years old, as they ran together around the field.

A school spokeswoman said there was a real buzz in the air all week, with particular excitement watching the head teacher and all the staff running their mile on Friday, including expectant mum Amy Hardacre, who managed the lap on her last day before leaving for maternity leave.

John Kyrle students and staff also ran a mile for charity at their Sport Relief celebration on Friday (March 23).

A competitive mile run around the school playing field was won by Year 8 student Jake Ashly before some 200 pupils and teachers took part in a fun run.

The school also raised money by having a non-uniform day, with some running in fancy dress, with assorted dragons, disco divas and most of the Mad Hatter’s tea party from Alice in Wonderland putting their best foot forward.

Head of PE and

event organiser, Mike Donoghue, said, “As always, JKHS students really embrace charity events such as Sport Relief.

“The atmosphere was superb both in the competitive race and the recreational one. Students and staff had fun, were active, and most importantly raised an excellent sum of money for worthwhile causes”.

Students at the Dean Academy in Lydney also attended school dressed in non-uniform to raise more than £490 for Sport Relief, which will go towards helping vulnerable people in the UK and some of the world’s poorest countries.

Fiona Price, who organised the non-uniform day, said: “This event has helped to raise our students’ awareness of those who are less fortunate than us. Our Year 7s enjoyed collecting the money from across the school for this really important charity.”

At St Anthony’s Primary School in Cinderford all the children paid 50p to come in their favourite sports kit, with more than £213 raised.

Much to the joy of the pupils, Cinderford mayor Cllr Roger Sterry took part in some relay races and tried the obstacle course, while the younger children enjoyed a treasure hunt and a dance-a-thon, and the day was topped off by a cake sale.

Twenty three youngsters from 1st Shirenewton Beavers and two explorer scouts also achieved their pledge of 20,000 steps, running around Devauden memorial hall field several times.

They also completed daily sporting challenges, from climbing towers, abseiling, arch­ery, aeroball (basketball on trampolines) and assault courses which ended in a waist-deep muddy trench run, to a more gentle game of limbo.

The six to eight-year-olds were all excited to be part of Sport Relief and entered into the spirit.