Portsmouth schoolgirls joined by Oympic medallist for 3km charity run

Wearing pink outfits and with painted faces, more than 300 youngsters were sponsored to run 3km for Cancer Research UK.

Each year group took turns to tackle 15 laps around the school’s 200m astroturf track by either running, walking or dancing as music played.

Olympic silver medallist pentathlete Heather Fell was on hand to deliver inspirational talks and hand out medals.

Ms Fell, who won silver in the 2008 Olympics, said: ‘I love any excuse to help promote women’s sport and get girls doing more sport. The girls are doing great today and the fact they are all taking part is brilliant. There’s a great team spirit. They’re all doing it together so no-one feels intimidated.’

Year 8 pupils Skye Louise, 13, and Megan Morrissey, 13, said they enjoyed taking part.

Year 8 pupil Ella Reilly, 13, added: ‘It’s for an important charity and we know whatever we are doing is going to help the work they do.’

PE teachers Emma James and Charlotte Duglan organised the event.

Ms James said: ‘We’ve never run our own Race for Life before, so we decided to put it on so the girls could raise more money through sponsorship.’

Ms Duglan said the girls had been really enthusiastic to take part.

She added: ‘The girls seem to be enjoying themselves and it’s really interesting to see how many of our young children are affected by cancer.’

Messages worn by every participant on their backs to show who they were running for were later pinned to a tribute board.