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Olympian's praise for children's 500-mile challenge

Georgia Levy-CollinsYorkshire
BBC Crowd of children stood around Jack Chris and Jonny smiling.BBC
Jack Sinfield, Chris Kamara and Jonny Brownlee joined the Children in Need challenge in Wakefield

Children at a primary school have won praise from Olympic gold medallist Jonny Brownlee and former Bradford City star Chris Kamara after collectively running 500 miles (805km) in four hours to raise money for BBC Children in Need.

Brownlee and Kamara, along with Super League Grand Final champion Jack Sinfield, joined pupils at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate in Wakefield for their Run for Pudsey challenge.

The children had earlier asked triathlete Brownlee to come out of retirement to help out.

After the run was successfully completed, Brownlee said: "To run or walk 500 miles collectively in just four hours is an incredible achievement and they should be so proud of themselves."

The challenge was part of Run for Pudsey, a fundraising initiative designed to engage schools and community groups across the UK in undertaking a physical challenge to raise money for Children in Need.

Jack Sinfield and Johnny Brownlee are wearing yellow t-shirts and are running. There are children running along with me.
Jack Sinfield (left) and Jonny Brownlee (right) caught on camera mid-challenge with the children

Brownlee took part after children from the school sent a video asking him to attend their school to help raise money.

He accepted and agreed to join the challenge, only to be joined by ex-Bradford City player and manager Kamara.

Kamara said: "I absolutely loved being part of the day. The energy and smiles from the children were infectious - and what they've achieved is fantastic.

"Having faced my own challenges with movement and getting back into running, I know how important it is to keep going, celebrate the little victories and enjoy being active.

"These youngsters have shown what can be achieved when everyone pulls together."

Jonny Brownlee wearing a yellow t-shirt and pudsey ears. Ferns is wearing the same. They are both smile.
Ferns, 10, received her Children in Need medal from Olympic gold medal-winning triathlete Brownlee
Three Wakefield Trinity players wearing yellow pudsey ears. Boy stood in front of them wearing a Wakefield top in blue, red and white.
Sam, 10, said he had loved fundraising with his sporting heroes from Wakefield Trinity

Meanwhile, Sinfield, son of rugby league star Sir Kevin Sinfield, said it was "amazing to see what these youngsters have achieved".

"My dad has always shown me the importance of using sport to make a difference, and today these children have done exactly that fundraising for such a worthy cause," he said.

"To raise thousands of pounds for BBC Children in Need is something they should be incredibly proud of.

"It was a privilege to be part of this Run for Pudsey challenge alongside my Wakefield Trinity teammates."

So far, the school has raised over £6,000 for Children in Need, while the national total has surpassed £1m.

Kamara added: "We don't see loads and loads of kids out playing football these days, we see them on their computers and iPads, so anything that encourages them to get outside and do stuff is so important."

Sports stars join Wakefield pupils for CiN run

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