PUPILS, staff and former pupils at King’s Worcester have completed a 16,000-mile challenge and raised over £3,400 for St Richard’s Hospice and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

Over 10 days The King’s School, Worcester embarked on the 7,660 virtual distance challenge to get from Worcester (UK) to Worcester (South Africa).

The challenge, aptly named #Worcester2Worcester, was set up to raise money for two charities St. Richard’s Hospice (Worcester) and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (South Africa).

Organised by the Sports Department at King’s, the community were asked to run, cycle, walk, swim or row the equivalent of the 7,670 miles to Worcester (South Africa) in just 10 days.

Assistant head of sport, Adrian Ford said: “It was clear that by day five we would be well ahead of our target. So, we decided to challenge everyone to the return journey too, achieving a total of just over 16,000 miles.”

Over 280 members of the King’s Community joined the KSW Sport Strava Club to log their miles.

Mr Ford, added: “We know this is a really challenging time for charities and we know the nursing team at St Richard’s Hospice are working harder than ever at the moment.

"We were keen to do something challenging to enable us to raise as much sponsorship as possible for both them and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

"We have a strong affiliation to South Africa, having run numerous sports tours to the country and worked with many local charities.

"As a sports department we try to foster a lifelong love of sport and this event allowed a wide range of pupils past and present to be involved.

"The commitment and dedication from the King’s community has been phenomenal. Everyone was keen to hit both the distance and the fundraising target.”

Tricia Cavell, Fundraising Director for St Richard’s Hospice, said: “We’re so grateful to everyone at King’s for supporting our care at a very challenging time for charities like us, with fundraising events cancelled and charity shops only beginning to reopen.

“And what an achievement for those who took part; to smash both the distance and fundraising targets – they’re all hospice heroes!”