STUDENTS and staff found themselves pink with pride as they staged their very own Race for Life.
More than 900 competitors took part in a three-mile challenge to run around the grounds of the Education Village, Darlington, to raise around £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Acting head of PE at Haughton Academy Adele Norris organised the fifth annual fundraiser, which also involved pupils from Beaumont Hill Academy.
Keen competitors were offered the chance to more than double the race to a 10K.
Troop to Teacher staff member Nick Glynne-Jones celebrated securing his Qualified Teaching Status and a position at Haughton Academy for next year with a race win.
“I haven’t had to run that fast since my army days,” he said. Following him across the line was next year’s head boy Aiden Foster, who was first student home, while Kane Lyonette and William Watt, both 12, joined RE teacher and County Durham ladies’ rugby star Amie Alderson across the line in joint third.
Miss Norris said: “This has become a firm school tradition which fosters our ethos of charity work and putting something back into the community.
“It supports our work to promote healthy and active lifestyles and also allows our children to feel they are doing something to combat cancer, a disease which has affected many of their lives to some degree.”