A SCHOOL in Reading has raised thousands of pounds for the NHS by walking the distance from Reading to Argentina.

Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning-on-Thames has raised more than £5,000 for the NHS.

The school challenged pupils, families, staff and alumni to walk, cycle, run or row 1,406km; the distance from West Cornwall NHS Hospital in Penzance to Dunbar NHS Hospital in Scotland, the Northern- and Southernmost NHS Hospitals in the UK.

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However, the school community went on to complete this distance more than eight times, the equivalent distance between Reading Blue Coat School and Argentina.

A total of 11,510km was covered in more than 750 individual journeys made by members of the school community between Monday 11 and Sunday, May 17.

RBC4NHS was set by the school's student-led outreach department, The Aldworth Partnership, and the School's Foundation Office to help raise vital funds for the NHS. Director of Foundation, Mrs Victoria Fangen-Hall, said: "True to form, the Blue Coat community completely embraced RBC4NHS and we are delighted at the support received for the challenge.

"Multiple generations of individual families have taken part; along with staff, former students and friends of the School, all helping us travel the length of the UK over eight times!

"We are grateful to all those that participated, sponsored and donated to make the challenge a true community success."

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Among those to take part were members of the School’s Boat Club, who rowed a total distance of 3,643km, more than two lengths of the country.

In recent weeks, the school has worked closely with Leighton Park School, also in Reading, to manufacture face shields, which have been distributed to NHS facilities and front-line workers across the home counties.

Donations can still be made here and will help to support our vital NHS.