Students from Dagenham’s Sydney Russell School donned colourful fun run costumes to help teach their peers about mental illness.

The year nine pupils are raising cash for Friends of Goodmayes Hospital, which specialises in mental health – and their latest fundraiser was a run where 20 students and one teacher were sponsored to run around the school field as many times as they could in 45 minutes.

Becky Holloway, who leads the group with her friend Libby Stevens, said: “Quite a lot of my friends have mental health issues and I have seen the bullying that goes on.

“We wanted to raise awareness because we thought they don’t get enough support.”

The fun run is believed to have raised more than £100 for the cause, while a bake sale organised earlier in the year raised nearly £60.

*Volunteers are needed to help the Friends group man its shop at the hospital. If you able to help and can spare a couple of hours for one morning or afternoon a week, call 01708 769707.

Source: Dagenham Post