CHILDREN in Huntingdonshire have been out in force getting active to raise money for some of the world s poorest and most vulnerable people. In addition to the Sport Relief Mile that was taking place across the UK, youngsters across the county came up wit

CHILDREN in Huntingdonshire have been out in force getting active to raise money for some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.

In addition to the Sport Relief Mile that was taking place across the UK, youngsters across the county came up with other novel ideas to support the cause.

Sport Relief money is spent by Comic Relief to help change the lives of disadvantaged people living in the UK and abroad.

On Friday students at Longsands College in St Neots raised more than �700 by paying �1 to swap their school uniform for fancy dress for the day. Some of the costumes included including cartoon character, Sponge Bob Square Pants and nursery rhyme animals, Three Blind Mice.

The money will be split between Sport Relief and the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

Pupils also held a food fayre selling hotdogs, cakes, pancakes and other refreshments. Year 10 students also took part in a sponsored walk/run round Priory Park.

Tabitha Appleyard, Key Stage 4 teacher said: "It has been fantastic to see how wholeheartedly the students have got involved. There is a real sense of community and wanting to raise money to help other people. The students came up with lots of brilliant ideas, which is exactly the kind of response I would expect from Longsands pupils."

Elsewhere in St Neots, children at Priory Park Playgroup raised �50 by dressing up as characters from Lazytown.

At Priory Park Infants School children raised �160 by taking part in an obstacle course. The children wore red and white tripes and took turns to crawl, climb and bounce their way around the course.

Pupils at Spring Common special school in American Lane, Huntingdon raised �110 by donating �1 to wear their favourite sports clothes.

Simon Paynter, Key Stage 3 manager said: "The day was full of sporting activities, culminating in a whole school 'mile challenge'.

"Students were challenged to push, walk or run anything up to five laps of the school playing fields."

Six-year-old Tara Lindsay from Warboys raised �137.50 after a two-hour cycle around the village. Tara decided to raise money for Sport Relief after hearing about it in a school assembly.

In Fenstanton, two under 10 football teams raised �64 from the teas and coffees sold during their match. This was the last match between Fenstanton Reds and Fenstanton Blues before the sides combine next season in the 9v9 league. It ended 3-2 to the Blues with Bailey Parr named man of the match for his hat-trick.

In Ramsey, children at Ramsey Juniors danced a Molly Mile around the streets of Ramsey for Sport Relief raising over �218.

Extra money (still being counted) was made by selling Sport Relief socks. In the afternoon youngsters paid to take part in activities including an obstacle course and a treasure hunt.

Charlotte Manning, PE coordinator at the school said: "It was a great day. We support Sport Relief and Comic Relief. The school has four houses and each of these organised a treasure hunt or an obstacle race

FIVE hundred people took part in the Sport Relief Mile at Hinchingbrooke Country Park on Sunday.

The organisers, Huntingdonshire District Council, are confident that the money raised from that event will beat the �13,000 raised in 2008 - the previous year of Sport Relief which provides cash for good causes in the UK and abroad.

Whole families turned out in the park including toddlers and one expectant mum only eight weeks away from giving birth. Known names in the crowd included Dame Norma Major and the MP for Huntingdon, Jonathan Djanogly. Both completed their miles, he did his in nine minutes.

All those who took part received a medal from Councillor John Davies, chairman of Huntingdonshire District Council and a goodie bag with an energy bar and a drink handed out by army cadets.

Also on hand were personnel from RAF Alconbury and DJ Olly Scott. Huntingdon Hawks gave people basketball practice and Philip Young from Huntingdon offered his professional sports massages at �5 a time, with all funds going to the cause.

There was a choice of one, three or six miles with entry fees at �5 for adults, �2 for children and �12 for a family. This money goes straight to Sport Relief with all the sponsorship the runners raised.

Martin Grey, senior sports development officer at HDC said: "It was a brilliant day out for all the family. There were lots of faces with big smiles. People got so much out of have a family day out together in brilliant sunshine.