Sporty students feel the burn in 'Pool to Paris challenge

A seven-strong team of BTEC sports students at the Blackpool Community Trust have been rowing and cycling until they’re blue in the face for Donna’s Dream House.

They hope to exercise the equivalent of the journey from Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower in France - all from the Trust’s education centre - to raise money for the charity.

Joe Shaw, 18, who is taking part in the fitness challenge, which is being spread out over several days, said: “As part of our BTEC we had to organise an event. Most groups organise a football match, but we wanted to make a difference, so we set up this fundraiser and decided that Donna’s Dreamhouse was the right charity for us.

“The lads knew about Donna’s Dreamhouse and they were really passionate about it. The Trust has worked with them before and they do a lot of work with kids who don’t have a lot of time left, to give them a holiday. It’s sad but it’s rewarding work and we’re trying to raise as much money as possible to help them get through the winter months.

“We originally wanted to raise £250, but we smashed that, then we wanted to raise £500, and we smashed that as well.”

The group will be completing the final leg of their 550-mile journey on February 25 to coincide with the Blackpool vs Bolton Wanderers match, with donations for Donna’s Dreamhouse being collected at Bloomfield Road.

And the Trust’s support for the charity, on Chapel Street, doesn’t stop there, as the students are now planning an auction to raise even more.

Joe said: “We’ve got Brian Rose’s boxing gloves and a £250 gym membership. We’ve got a signed shirt from the Blackpool FC players and a signed match ball, and Fleetwood FC have donated stuff as well.”