MORE THAN 700 Coventry schoolchildren climbed, swam, ran, shot arrows and abseiled as part of a 24-hour mission to raise vital funds for Plas Dol Y Moch.
Year six pupils from ten primary schools across the city joined forces at Centre AT7 to exercise by an means necessary as part of the Route to Rio campaign.
Collectively, the teams clocked up 1,000 miles to raise just short of £2,000 for the outdoor adventure centre which has been used by Coventry schools for 50 years.
Led by the Coventry Sports Foundation, Route to Rio invites schools to raise valuable funds for the centre – which is used by more than 80 per cent of Coventry schools.
The citywide project combines the 50th Anniversary of Wales-based Plas Dol Y Moch with the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, and encourages children to track their activities with the target of clocking up 5,777 miles – the distance from Coventry to Rio.
Progress was tracked using pedometers and other modes of equipment whilst Coventry Sports Foundation staff worked to calculate the figures.
To help the children make the distance, Centre AT7 staff – as well as a team from Coventry City Council’s adult education service – also worked up a sweat to take it in turns to cycle, swim and run over the course of 24 hours.
The team collectively covered over 400 miles – bringing the total distance up to nearly 2,000 miles.
Wendy Jackson, community development manager at the foundation, said: “Around 90 per cent of Coventry schools attended Dol Y Moch throughout 2014 and 2015.
“This clearly demonstrates what a valued resource the centre is and has been for the last 50 years.
“With year six attendance expected to increase by more than 15 per cent by 2021, it is vital we support the residential centre so that it can continue to provide a fantastic and memorable experience in outdoor adventure for Coventry schoolchildren.
“To have covered 2,000 miles and raise almost £2,000 for Dol Y Moch is a fantastic achievement and everyone should be proud of their contribution.”
