FARNHAM got up and active for Sports Relief last week, with various challenges taking place all over the area.

More than 8,000 school children from across Surrey and Hampshire danced their hearts out as Farnham Maltings’ resident dance company The Dance Movement co-ordinated the Let’s Dance challenge, a simultaneous dance class including pupils from seven local primary and secondary schools.

Children at All Hallows, Bentley, All Saints (Tilford), St Peter’s, Badshot Lea, Potters Gate and St Andrew’s schools learned the same dance routine, and performed at the same time on March 23, connecting with other children through dancing.

The aim of The Dance Movement, apart from raising funds for Sport Relief, was to bring people together as their belief is that when people get together to create, perform or watch dance their lives are changed for the better.

The money is still rolling in but so far £2,688 has been raised for Sport Relief and The Dance Movement estimate that in the end, around 8,150 students took part - including almost all 420 pupils at Potters Gate in Farnham town centre (pictured).

Another local group that got involved was Busylizzy, a Farnham-based exercise club offering ante-natal, post-natal and mums and children classes.

Busylizzy Farnham joined together with nine of the company’s other clubs to create their very own ‘Busylizzy Buggyfitness Sport Relief Challenge’.

The Farnham club helped hit the combined distance of 500km between March 17 and 23, and raised £645.

Meanwhile, pupils at St Nicholas’ School raised a total of £265 for this year’s Sport Relief, as pupils brought in £1 to wear a sports kit of their choice or to dress up as their favourite sporting hero.

Pupils also took part in an obstacle course during one of their PE lessons, with prizes for the fastest finishers in each year group.

Children at South Farnham School had a wonderful time participating in a fun run, donating £1 to complete as many laps of the astro pitch as possible.

They opted for running, hopping, jumping or walking backwards, while teachers were skipping or tied together for a three-legged race.

Year two children also enjoyed a “sport” of yoga and relaxation after a busy morning of Sport Relief activities, while year R took part in some ‘obstacle course fun’.

Over in Farnham Heath End School, there was a ‘Students v Staff’ netball match on Friday and students also took on the Sport Relief Step Challenge with a target of 6,004 laps of the playing fields - this being the number of miles between Farnham and Cape Town where there is a Sport Relief surfing project.

They managed to complete a total of 6,691 laps.

Badshot Lea Village Infant School got 145 children up and dancing, while children and staff at Tootsies Nursery wore sport related clothing and took part in ‘Go Jetters’ obstacle courses, hide and seek, and disco dancing.