WESTBURY has been doing its bit for Sport Relief with the town council and Leighton Recreation Centre hosting a Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday. 
Over 100 people signed up for the event, with more joining in on the day. Many families joined walkers and runners of all ages in the first official Sport Relief Mile event to be held at the sports centre. The route was around the grounds of Leighton Recreation Centre and after a warm-up session, they were off to tackle a distance of one, three or six miles. All participants received a medal and a welcome bottle of water at the finish line, sponsored by the supermarket. There was also bouncy castles, go-karts and other entertainment for children and the warm sunshine added to the successful event.The mayor, cllr David Windess, and fellow town councillors and town council staff joined local people in walking the route. Manager of Leighton Recreation Centre, Keith Brunsden, said that several hundreds of pounds was raised by participants’ entry money and added donations, but people were also raising their own money which they would be sending directly to Sport Relief. Councillors and the sports centre staff said they were pleased with the success of the town event.Leading up to the weekend, schools and groups in Westbury and the surrounding villages also held their own events, which all helped the national Sport Relief weekend raise a record-breaking sum of over £52million. The sporting event, which grew from the success of Comic Relief, inspires people to perform a range of sporting endurance events to raise money for charity.Schools across the town and surrounding villages saw hundreds of pupils getting active and raising money.Students at Matravers aimed to raise over £1,000 for Sport Relief this year. Students participated in a variety of activities last week including a basketball shootout competition, non-uniform day and taking on the Sport Relief mile – some in a less conventional way than others!This year all of this money making was concluded with “Strictly Come Sport Relief.” After school on Friday 23rd March, 12 staff members, from across the subjects, placed their pride to one side to compete in a dance challenge. Students also paid to be part of the live audience and voted for their favourite performers.In addition, students bought Sport Relief socks and wrist bands to do their bit to support the good causes.Pupils at Westbury Infants School took on the Sport Relief mile on Friday, with children raising money through sponsorship. Reception children also did their bit by walking into the town centre.At Westbury Junior School pupils did the Sport Relief mile around the school field, walking, hopping, skipping, or however they pleased! But they also had to stop at various points along the route to do a forfeit – whether it was doing a disco dance or roaring like a monster.Pupils at Dilton Marsh Primary School did their Sport Relief mile on the school field.
