Sport Relief 2008: Chichester children on the run – all in the name of charity

More than 140 pupils and all the staff, including the headteacher from St James’ Primary School in Emsworth, wore fancy dress for the Sport Relief one-mile run. "They had a lot of fun, no-one took it too seriously, " key stage two leader Rob Gallop said at the time. "As it was a mile we did not want anyone keeling over or fainting or feel pressurised to take part, and they all handled it really well." Among the colourful costumes on show were Spongebob Squarepants, a world’s worst stuntwoman wrapped in bandages and an American football player.

At Chichester High School for Boys, more than 100 members of staff and students also took part in the Sport Relief mile and pocketed more than £200 for the charity. The event organised by Year 9 students was a huge success. Headteacher John Robinson, who also took part in the charity run, said at the time: "The students at this school are an absolute credit to themselves. Not only did they plan and organise the event, they once again showed their capacity and commitment to raising money for charity."

Chichester-based Spirit FM presenters Ian Crouch and Vicky Edwards were among the many others who also took part in the Sport Relief mile alongside under-fives from the Blackbirds Playgroup in Felpham, raising more than £700.

Staff and students at Chichester College completed the Sport Relief mile run around the playing fields in fancy dress. Hundreds of people took part at both the Chichester and Brinsbury campus, many dressed up for the occasion. Husband-and-wife team Peter and Bernadette Manning decided to ski the mile on the wet grass on the rugby pitch and more than £1,000 was raised at the college.

Youngsters from Kingsham Primary School also entered the fundraising spirit and raised funds for Sport Relief. Around half the pupils ran the full mile while younger pupils ran a shorter distance to help boost the charity’s coffers. Headteacher Nigel Coren said at the time: "It was great for us to do something like this."