ENERGETIC staff at Largs Academy campus are getting on their marks this week for a five-kilometre run in aid of Mary’s Meals.

The group formed back in August to complete the couch to 5k running challenge as a way to get fit, with teachers and office workers all getting involved

However some staff, including Mary Lunday, decided to go one step further and complete a 5k later this year in aid of the charity.

She said: “We started training three times a week at the start of August. We weren’t confident we would all be able to do it at the start!

“We didn’t intend for it to be anything more than us getting fit but after a while we thought that we could do a wee fundraiser out of it for Mary’s Meals and tie in with the school’s values.”

Mary says they are aiming to be role models for the kids at the school.

She said: “The school focuses a lot on health and wellbeing so it was good to do something instead of just talking about it.

“We want to say that if we can do it then anyone can. Hopefully it also helps to promote fitness at a time when a lot of people are stuck indoors.

“It’s also giving us a bit of camaraderie at a time when spirits are a bit low.

“This isn’t going to be about the time that people do it in, completing it is much more important to us.”

The eager runners decided on Mary’s Meals as the charity as the school already does a lot of work to benefit the organisation.

Gareth Atkinson, a geography teacher who is also on the school’s charity committee, says the cause carries out fantastic work to help combat hunger.

He said: “Largs Academy is proud to support the work of Mary's Meals and greatly appreciates the continued support of our pupils, parents and staff.

“In every classroom there is a blue Mary's Meals mug for pupils and staff to donate any spare change.

“Since returning in August, we have already raised £576 which is enough to provide 7,205 meals. Now staff have their running shoes on to do a bit more."

The group has set up a donations page online and is looking for the support of the community to raise as much as possible.

Mary added: “We’ve just opened up our JustGiving page so we are hoping we’ll get some support from our fellow staff members.

“We want to prove that 5k is achievable no matter what stage of life or fitness you are at. We are already talking about our next goal of maybe a 10k - or even a marathon.”

The group will be running their 5k at socially-distanced intervals on Friday, starting at 4pm along the promenade.

Staff taking part are Alison Beaton, Pamela Campbell, Karen Colquhoun, Kate Duff, Grace Furey, Laura Griffiths, Liz Henderson, Mary Lunday, Caitlin MacLean, Shirley MacKintosh, Gemma McCallum, Donna Shaw, Rachel Storrie, Kirsty Strahan, Caitlin Turner, Ashley Watson and Wendy Yarr.

You can donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mary-lunday3