A TEAM of staff at Westhoughton High School have will have some homework of their own - in the form of marathon training.

The five have signed up to Bolton Hospice’s Mind Over Marathon challenge, which will involve daily training leading up to the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in May.

None of them have run a marathon before so the hospice has provided an extensive package to support them, including a bespoke training plan, group training, strength and conditioning sessions, yoga and nutritional advice.

Assistant headteacher Colleen Burton said: “Bolton Hospice is a special charity who we are thrilled to support. This challenge will test all the team, but knowing we have the students behind us will make the training far more bearable.”

Bolton Hospice’s community fundraiser, Kathryn Willett said: “We are delighted to have a team of staff taking on this huge challenge for us and even more so that we will have the support and backing of the entire school behind them.

“We are sure that the students will be working hard to motivate and inspire them over the coming months and to make sure that they are sticking to their training plans!

“We wish them and all our other challengers the very best in their training and fundraising.”

The team will work closely with the student body over the coming months to devise fundraising events and activities in school where all the students can challenge themselves and raise much needed funds for Bolton Hospice.