WESTBURY children and adults donned their running shoes and swimming costumes and took part in fun activities, to raise funds for the Sport Relief challenge last week. Westbury’s efforts contributed to the national charity raising a record £51 million to help change lives across the UK and in the world’s poorest countries.
Every two years Sport Relief, which grew from the success of Comic Relief, inspires people to perform a range of sporting endurance events to raise money.
The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Westbury was held at Leighton Recreation Centre on Sunday as part of the Sport Relief Games where people took part in a variety of sporting events from 21st – 23rd March. More than 50 local people turned out to run either one or three miles, including the Mayor of Westbury, cllr David Windess. Deputy mayor, cllr Christine Mitchell and former mayor, cllr Sue Ezra, also walked the mile.
Two members of the White Horse News team, Helen and Susan Drew, ran the three-mile distance and you can still sponsor them here – https:// my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/white-horse-news-sport-relief
Keith Brunsden, general manager at the centre said, “It was an amazing day! Watching the community come together to support such a great cause was brilliant. We feel so proud knowing that the money raised here today will help people living really tough lives right here in Wiltshire, the UK and across the world”
Westbury residents also made a splash in the pool as part of the town’s swimathon where participants swam 1.5km, 2.5km or 5km individual distances.
Callum Stirling from Westbury Swimming Pool said, “We had 10 people take part and it was a great success. Lots of money was raised and over 15km was swam overall.”
At Matravers School, pupils recorded their most successful Sport Relief effort ever. Matravers divided the school into two teams – ‘spots’ and ‘stripes’. The teams competed throughout the day at sporting challenges in PE lessons, lunch-time and after school. Highlights of these contests included mass musical chairs, flappy bird challenge, the crossbar challenge and of course, culminating in the Sport Relief Mile.
The school also held their own Sport Relief bake off for students and staff. Another highlight was the Strictly Come Sport Relief challenge (as in Strictly Come Dancing) where six staff couples danced to live music (provided by staff and students) before crowning the Strictly Sport Relief Champion.
At Westbury Infant School Fiona Price, who represents Great Britain in long distance running, came to run with the children to help them raise money for Sport Relief. The year 1 and year 2 children ran a mile, whilst the reception children undertook ‘the Great Toddle’ around Oldfield Park. Nearly £200 was raised for the Sports Relief charity.
The pupils of Chapmanslade Primary school got dressed up to run 1 mile around their sports field. Some came in colourful tu-tus and Egyptian costumes, while others donned their onesies and ‘Granny’ clothes for a warmer run.
On Friday 21st March Westbury Leigh Primary School’s Pupil Leadership Team organised a Mini Olympics to raise money for Sport Relief. They set up a series of activities, including egg and spoon, penalty shoot outs and Vortex throwing. Parents and children were asked to donate a minimum of 10p per station to enter and refreshments were also available.
Charley Oliver, the school’s secretary said “The weather was fantastic and it was great to see so many people supporting the event. The children really wanted to beat their parents and teachers, and they succeeded! The teachers also raced each other in an egg and spoon race, whilst our assistant headteacher, Mrs Newbury, became goalkeeper for the afternoon for penalty shootout.”
