Middlesbrough schoolchildren take part in 24-hour basketball challenge for charity

By Chris Webber, Reporter with The Northern Echo

MORE than 200 children and teenagers kept a ball bouncing for 24 hours in a charity event at the weekend.
Each of the youngsters from Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough paid £5 to take part and also raised sponsorship money for Asthma UK and the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Pupils aged from 11 to 16, along with staff, kept an Olympic golden basketball bouncing for 24 hours, starting at 12 noon on Friday, June 28.

The basketball was donated by the national basketball team and basketball players from the Newcastle Eagles attended the event.

As well as the relay basketball challenge there was an Atlantic rowing challenge, long-distance cycling and floodlit football. For the slightly less active, there was a 20 hour cinema marathon, a 24 hour snack-bar and a beauty salon.

Howard Leighton, UCA’s sports co-ordinator, helped to organise the activities. He said: “This 24 hour challenge was the idea of our students who wanted to raise funds for their chosen charities. In addition, it is the culmination of our Olympic legacy activities after we had the great honour of attending London 2012. All of the activities have been set up by our students and it’s also fantastic to have the support of our local community.”

A spokeswoman for the school explained younger students and some children from nearby primary schools did go home for a good night’s sleep, but added: “There were some teachers and youngsters there the whole 24 hours and they were just little bit tired, but everyone was happy.”