PENNAR Community School staff and pupils have been getting fit in November while raising funds for charity.

The school has been taking part in the November Challenge, walking/running a mile for the 30 days of the month, with the idea of encouraging those taking part to get outside in winter.

Michele Wiggins of the Friends of Pennar said: “I entered the November Challenge last year and thought wouldn’t it be great to get my school involved.

“About six months ago I had a chat with Damon McGarvie, our headmaster, and he said ‘Yeah that would be great’.

“Matthew Evans, who organises it, came to the school and did a presentation where, not only were the pupils excited, so were the staff.”

The challenge has been raising funds for the Medullary Thyroid Cancer charity, with youngsters collecting sponsorship through forms and online.

“Our headmaster and some teachers, and lots of pupils, also signed up, but as a school we will also receive a medal, so it’s not about how fast you go but all working together to obtain a medal for your school. I also asked Friends of Pennar to help with a rota, so there was always someone to help.

“The school, the parents, the teachers have all taken this on board and are so enthusiastic; Mrs John’s class have made up a song.

“The children have enjoyed it and I would like to thank all those who have helped and hope we can do it again.”

Speaking on the last school day of the challenge, Head teacher Damon McGarvie said: “It’s going really well, the staff are embracing it and the children are loving it.

“We’ve been doing it throughout November in the afternoons, five laps of the school field and playgroup; they’ve been doing it rain or shine, and there’s only one day they’ve missed out.

“A lot of the children are doing more than one mile a day, some are racing round doing two or three miles a day, and some are just walking round.”