STAFF from Sutton Academy have come together to run a marathon in a month to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

The challenge consists of 40 members of staff from the secondary school running a minimum of six laps around the track every night after school throughout the whole month of January.

The ‘Run the Month’ challenge is part of Prostate Cancer UK where teams of people can enter to raise as much money and awareness as they can around the disease.

Nicola Egerton, PE teacher and enrichment coordinator at The Sutton Academy, said staff hope to "inspire" other people to get involved.

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“The beauty of what we are doing is that we are not all performers, some of us have never ran before so the fact that we have a complete mixed bag of abilities is really inclusive.

“It’s really helped members of staff with their mental health and wellbeing as well so it’s nice to be involved in this all together and get out and active," Nicola told the Star.

The runs began on January 5 with the last run scheduled to take place on January 31.

“We’ve had a really positive reaction from everyone involved. They are all really pleased to be taking part. We just want to inspire other people to get involved," Nicola said.

She added: “It can been hard some days especially if it’s really cold or raining and you’ve been working all day the last thing you want to do is get your trainers on and run around a track.

“But knowing the fact you’ve got the support of 39 other people who are there cheering you on and supporting you and giving you positive encouragement - it just makes you want to carry on with it. There’s a massive team morale.”

Staff members have raised £3,189 so far for Prostate Cancer UK, surpassing their £500 target for the charity.

Nicola said: “We’re just over half way through and we’re still hoping to raise more.

“It’s so nice to see a community of people come together to raise money for such an important cause.”