PUPILS at a Kidderminster school raised £500 for the Back on Track appeal by tackling an athletics and numeracy-based sporting hurdle.

All the children at Franche Community Primary School – more than 500 pupils – looked to go the extra mile for the appeal by jumping and throwing as far as they could while year six pupils, aged 10 and 11, recorded all the distances reached.

Thanks to events like this, the Shuttle/Times & News Back on Track appeal is now close to its £25,000 target to replace vital sporting equipment destroyed in a devastating fire at Stourport Sports Club.

The equipment belonged to Stourport Hockey Club and Kidderminster and Stourport Athletic Club, which provide a valuable service for all ages of the community.

At Franche school, both staff and pupils dressed for the occasion in their favourite sporting gear ranging from karate kits to cheerleading outfits and motocross gear.

Matt Warren, event organiser and PE co-ordinator, explained that all the jumping and throwing had been added together to work out the total for the whole school.

Pupils tried their hand at shotputt and three javelins, basketballs and tennis balls and took part in a range of jumps from hops by the youngest children to the triple jump by the more advanced.

Pupils estimated that altogether they had jumped and thrown 7,709 metres, or about five miles, or the length of 77 football pitches.

Mr Warren said: “It was a great day. All the children really enjoyed it and we always like a chance to dress up at Franche.”

He said sport was always made a priority at the school and the event had also given them the opportunity to take stock of their sporting achievements throughout the year.

He explained that the nature of the challenge was appropriate for the appeal because throwing and jumping – along with running – underlined all athletic competition.

He added that calculating the distances was also a “considerable feat” for the pupils and they had leapt at the challenge.

Mr Warren said: “Both the athletics club and the hockey club are extremely important. We can only take children so far at school but they can take them right to the top.

“It is vital we are able to make use of their expertise. They are both brilliant at taking young people in and spotting and developing talent.

“It is also thanks to them that many children can carry on enjoying sport into adulthood and stay fit and healthy.”