STUDENTS found fundraising an uphill struggle when they agreed to help Pudsey Bear.
The Children in Need spectacular at Risedale Sports and Community College, Catterick Garrison, involved teams pulling a four ton Land Rover and trailer up the playground.
Legs burning, hearts pounding, the winning team from Year 10 completed the 50m trial of strength in 1 min 30.5, knocking the Year 11s into second place and the teachers into third.
Proceeds, expected to run into hundreds of pounds, will be divided between Children in Need and ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity.
“We could not believe we had won because our team was mainly girls,” said Chloe Dangerfield, 14.
“It was really hard work and at the half way point I wondered whether we were going to make it. But my dad is ex-military and they are both really good causes which spurred me on.”
The trophy, a bronze Land Rover on a plinth, was presented to the winning team by Garrison Commander Col Stephen Padgett, who is also a governor at the school.
ABF regional executive secretary Amy Simeon said: “It has been an absolutely wonderful event and we are delighted the school decided to support our charity.
“The more children who get involved the better and they really enjoy fundraising for charity.”
Risedale has close links with the army with a high proportion of students from service families.
Event organiser Helen Porritt, who was recently appointed service children advocate, said they had received fantastic support from the Army and Northallerton contractors Walter Thompsons, who were currently refurbishing part of the school.
“The event was also organised by our student council and members of SLICE (Student Leadership Involvement in Community Engagement) who did a fabulous job.”
Master Driver WO2 Shaun Bedford, who is responsible for all the Garrison’s transport issues, said: “It was uphill, the Land Rover and trailer weighed about four tons and with big chunky tyres and four wheel drive there would have been a massive amount of rolling resistance.
“They must have experienced a huge build up of lactic acid in their legs, so they all did extremely well.”
The event was watched by the whole school and pupils from the neighbouring Hipswell Primary School.
