PE teachers from a Northampton school aim to raise £750 as they complete week-long 2.6 challenge

A number of teachers from a Northampton school are taking part in an extended version of the 2.6 challenge to raise funds for five charities.

Staff, and some students, from Northampton School for Girls have already made more than £650 for their week-long 2.6 challenges.

The national challenge was set up as a way to mark that London Marathon that should have taken place on Sunday (April 26) and encourages people to complete an activity that can be quantified by 2.6 or 26.

From skipping and rowing to swimming in the bath, the PE department at NSG has come up with inventive ways to participate.

Rachael Lissaman, who is a PE and dance teacher at the school, has been completing 26 squats with her dogs every day.

She said: “I’ve built it into my morning routine.

“I just decided I wanted to do something different and eye-catching because I thought it might raise a little bit more money.

“It’s a personal touch and an insight into my life too, which I think the students need now as they are not in school.

“But it’s also a physical challenge, and something that I don’t normally do.

“I thought I would find it difficult. To begin with it was okay but now it’s starting to show.”

To start with it was just the PE department who were participating in the challenge, but when videos were uploaded to social media other members of staff and some students also got involved.

Rachael added: “We were going to just donate ourselves to charities, but I decided that we could get more money by setting up a fundraising page.

“We started with a £500 target but we’ve had an incredible response so we decided to push a bit further.”

Between them, the team from NSG has already raised more than £650, which will be split between NSPCC, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Kidney Cancer UK, CALM and Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship.

As the week continues and each team members’ challenges conclude over the next couple of days, the teachers hope they will reach their target of £750.

Donations can be made online on the NSG Virgin Giving Page.

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