Swimming the length of the English Channel and walking the distance of the London Marathon are just two ways students at Neale-Wade Academy have raised hundreds for Macmillan Cancer Trust.

Cambs Times: Rosetta Schaunberg-Kent organised the fundraising challenge and swam almost 200 lengths of the pool.Rosetta Schaunberg-Kent organised the fundraising challenge and swam almost 200 lengths of the pool. (Image: Archant)

More than 200 Year 7 students have been fundraising for the charity after one of the students’s loved ones died from cancer.

The event was the brainchild of student Rosetta Schaunberg-Kent and organised by the Year 7 Team and students.

Rosetta, an avid swimmer, swam almost 200 lengths of the pool at George Campbell Leisure Centre.

She said: “I was so pleased with the distance everyone swam and walked.

“I never imagined that it would go so well.”

Students collectively swam 2,014 lengths - the equivalent of one-and-a-half times the distance of the English Channel.

Staff at the leisure centre allowed 24 students to use the pool for the challenge free of charge and supplied them with equipment, refreshments and trained staff to support them.

Another group of students walked 750 miles collectively - the distance of March to Paris and back.

Chris Mac Manus, Year 7 progress leader, said: “I am so proud of all the students for their great effort and resilience to work as a team to complete the difficult challenge and raise money for such a worthy cause.

“Individually, several students have raised over £100.

“Once collected, all money raised will be presented to Macmillan.”