Hartlepool Sixth Form students and staff run 272 miles for NHS

Sports students from Hartlepool Sixth Form turned the disappointment of missing out on a national tournament into a successful fundraiser for front line health workers.

The sixth form’s netball, basketball and women’s rugby academy teams were due to travel to Nottingham for the AoC Sport National Championships in April before the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To keep their spirits up, the staff and students decided to organise a ‘lockdown fundraiser’ where they would run the 272 miles between Hartlepool Sixth Form’s campus and the championships’ venue Nottingham University either at home or exercising outdoors while observing social distancing.

Joined by their fellow men’s rugby and football academy sides, the team smashed their target, raising £300 so far which will provide support for NHS staff and volunteers fighting the pandemic.

Danielle Smith Sports Lecturer and Netball Coach, said: “The students were devastated about nationals been cancelled, so we tried to turn the experience into a positive by raising money for the NHS and keeping everyone active.

“NHS staff and volunteers are doing amazing work right now in caring for COVID-19 patients and we wanted to show our respect and gratitude.

“The students worked so hard and exceeded the miles alongside our sports lecturers and coaches. I am so proud of everyone’s efforts during this difficult time.”

More than £100m has been raised throughout the UK for NHS Charities Together to be distributed to the NHS’s official charities. Captain Tom Moore caught the hearts of entire country by raising over £30m by walking laps of his garden. To make a donation, visit Hartlepool Sixth Form’s JustGiving page.