Over 450 pupils, parents, staff, family and friends of St Swithun’s School, Winchester successfully completed their Legging it for Lira challenge which took place on Sunday 22 September. They walked, ran, rowed, swam, cycled and rode on horseback to cover a distance of 6,000 miles in 12 hours raising £20,000 for St Katherine’s School in Lira, northern Uganda. St Swithun’s has supported St Katherine’s for almost 20 years and the funds raised will be used to fund places for girls to attend St Katherine’s who would not otherwise receive an education.
To cover the 6,000 miles, which is the distance between Winchester and Lira, other sponsored activities included two hours of non-stop drumming, sailing and busking in Winchester High Street and there were many impressive physical feats of endurance throughout the day, including seven year old Hannah Batten who swam one mile for the first time. Although initially thwarted by stubborn cloud cover on Sunday, French teacher Caro Bewes plans to do a tandem parachute jump from 12,000 feet in the next few days to bring the challenge to a close.
Reverend Katrina Dykes, chaplain at St Swithun’s, said “This was a real team effort and through the determination of all who took part, we completed the 6,000 miles one minute before the deadline. What is even more impressive is the fundraising total and the difference that this will make to girls in Uganda who would not otherwise go to school”
A total amount of over £20,000 has been raised so far and if anybody would like to support the cause, donations can still be made on www.justgiving.com/leggingitforlira .