Pupils and staff at Kenilworth School have been getting active this March to support the British Red Cross' Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Over £5,500 has been raised as teachers and children at the school were challenged to walk or run 5km over the course of a week.

A number of members of staff also completed personal challenges - chief amongst these was Mr Garratt who cycled 80 miles between Solihull and Oxford along canal towpaths.

The money raised, through sponsorship and donations to the school's JustGiving page, will be used to provide food, water, first aid, clothes and medicine to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

And with the donations already totalling £5,521 Headteacher Haydon Abbott praised the efforts of the school community.

"It is heartening to hear of the generosity of Kenilworth staff and students," he said.

"The opportunities to participate in these fundraising challenges have galvanised the school and wider community to think in creative ways and make a difference by working to raise funds, either individually or in teams, to help those affected by the war in Ukraine."

Other personal challenges included:

• Miss Purewal ran a solo half-marathon.
• Miss Partridge completed a total distance of 10km (walking and running) every day during the challenge.
• Miss Harros ran 5km every day during the challenge.

The campaign was organised by English teacher Sandeep Purewal who was also behind the school's lockdown running challenge which raised nearly £6,000 for NHS Charities Together.

"I am blown away by the amount that we have been able to raise for The British Red Cross," she said.

"It has been wonderful to hear all about the challenges that staff and students have set themselves.

"I'm very grateful to all those who participated in the challenge or who supported us by donating!"

If you would like to donate, please follow this link to JustGiving page.

(Header image by John Brightley via geograph.org.uk)