ST Benet's year sixes and year fives completed a sponsored five-mile walk recently.

Every pupil raised £10 to pay for a wheelchair, which would go to Lourdes with the Hexham and Newcastle Diocesan Pilgrimage.

In the school's 25th anniversary year, pupils wanted to do something to help others, and we had just two weeks to complete this challenge.

The children set off just after 9am with teachers and helpers. They began their walk following ladybird signs, which are dotted around the village of Ouston.

Some children brought their own snacks and drinks to keep them going along the walk.

They walked through forests, cornfields, and long grass with hidden nettles.

Eventually, they came into a long field, the smell of manure was all around them, but that wasn't the problem.

They weren't alone. Also in the field there was a herd of cows. The children were making a lot of noise so some cows started to trot towards them.

When they got back, they were absolutely exhausted.

They went into the hall for their dinner.

Sadly, the money raised was not enough and so Sister Maureen, the music teacher, raised about another £100 and the school had cake stalls and raised the extra money needed.

The wheelchair went to Lourdes. The person who used it in Lourdes was Jill Barrett, our former teacher's daughter.

The wheelchair will be used as often as possible for the ill people who visit Lourdes.