PUPILS and staff at Amery Hill School are gearing up for Sport Relief by encouraging other schools to join in.

On Monday, year nine pupils hit the sports hall where they were put through their paces by instructor Paul Beer and Results Gym. They tried a range of sporting activities, from group cycling to zumba and body combat classes, to show how easy it is to take part in this year’s campaign to raise all-important cash.

On Sports Relief day – on March 18 – Amery Hill School will open its doors to primary schools in the area who will be invited to help top last year’s total of £1,136.07, which was used by the charity to help fund projects across the UK.

Pupil Oliver Hurd, 14, said: “Taking part in the cycling and exercise classes was so much fun, it’s nice to do something different in PE with my friends.

“It makes me feel proud to be helping other people, especially children that might not get to do fun things like we’ve done today.”

Like Amery Hill, hundreds of schools across the region will be undertaking the Sport Relief mile on March 18. Teachers can get started by signing up for a free school fundraising kit, which is full of fundraising ideas, posters, balloons and stickers, as well as learning resources to help pupils understand where the money goes.

For the wider community, Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games will take place from March 18-20, offering walking, running, swimming and cycling opportunities, including a swimathon at Alton Sports Centre and The Alton Mile at Mint Condition, Binsted.

To get involved, visit sportrelief.com.