Brrr...illiant fund-raisers braved freezing water for Sport Relief

At Alnwick’s Sainsbury’s store, Jane Hardy, from Active Northumberland, joined staff for cold-water charity shenanigans.

Jane managed to sit in a paddling pool, which was filled with ice, for 30 minutes. Shop workers, including manager Gerry Storey, and Anita McDonald, also braved the chilly bath, but didn’t last quite as long as Jane.

Jane, who enjoys cold-water swimming and is an ambassador for Breadline Africa, said: “I lasted longer than I thought I would – I didn’t think I would get past 15 minutes to be honest.”

Gerry, along with deputy manager Andy Lawson, and department managers Richard Fairclough, Jon Nelson and Kieran Marsh, took part in an ice-bucket challenge, each having a crate of freezing water poured over their head.

Sainsbury’s staff are still counting up how much money they raised for Sport Relief, but Jane’s efforts collected £200 for the cause.

Sixth-form students at Alnwick’s Duchess’s Community High School kick-started their school day on Friday by running the 1k perimeter of the school and raising more than £180.

Students and staff from Amble’s James Calvert Spence College set themselves the challenge of running, walking or cycling more than 500 miles – the distance from The Friendliest Port to Paris, France. The hardy fund-raisers hit the exercise bikes and treadmills to clock-up 578.5 miles in a week – which actually took them past Paris.

The exact amount of money raised is not yet known, but it is more than £100.

Pupils at Alnwick’s St Michael’s C of E Primary School racked-up more than 150 miles of walking and running. Everyone was dressed up in sports clothes on Friday, and the Year 6 children set up a course which included four laps of the field.

Each child managed at least one mile.

The school is still counting how much money has been raised.

Pupils wore sporty gear and did laps of the field at Alnwick’s Swansfield Park Primary School.

Collectively, they ran approximately 470 miles and raised £300.