HEAVY snowfall couldn’t prevent a hardy group of children getting outdoors to raise more than £2,000 for charity.

Pupils at St Matthew’s Primary School, in Prudhoe, held a Race for Life fund-raiser for the first year and battled through blizzard-like conditions in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Every child from nursery to Year Six ran around the school field, accompanied by parents and teachers, in year groups before everybody united to run together at the end of the day. In total, 230 people ran on the day.

The school’s early years foundation stage lead, Patricia Hatherly, organised the event and was delighted with its success.

She said: “I’m the school’s forest school trainer, so it was always going ahead no matter what the weather. The children and parents came dressed prepared for the snow, and it went amazingly well.

“The excitement among the children was great and they were all up for it.

“We are all immensely proud of everybody who took part and to everybody who supported us, such as the parents and the whole community. Everybody involved knows of somebody who has been affected by cancer, whether a grandparent or parent, or other relative.

“All the children are already asking when the next one is.”

Following the success of the event, it will be held each year at St Matthew’s.

The younger children ran 1km and the older children 2km. Each child received a medal for taking part in the runs.