Pupils join marathon runner Ben on his amazing charity challenge

Pupils from Shuttleworthy College and St Leonard's Primary School in Padiham join runner Ben Smith (s)

Youngsters from St Leonard’s Primary School and Shuttleworth College teamed up with Ben Smith on his 162nd marathon where he ran through Burnley and the Ribble Valley.

Shuttleworth College also donated £162 from their charity fund and three Year 11 students, as well as Year Seven Sky Sports for Living pupils, ran half-a-mile with Ben and his group.

In Sabden Ben (33) was treated to a pub lunch at the White Hart.

Ben (33) is running for Stonewall and Kidscape charities, which aim to combat bullying in schools and society as a whole, and is hoping to raise £250,000.

Ben, who started out in Bristol and will run through 309 locations in the UK, admitted he was bullied at school, suffered depression and did try to take his own life. He only took up running a few years ago and is doing the #401Challenge to raise awareness of bullying. He started out in Bristol in November 2015.

Shuttleworth College PE teacher Andy Stubbs said: “We wanted to support Ben especially as his charities are anti-bullying which we obviously strongly support at the school.

“The students wanted to be involved and we wanted to play our part as a school. It’s amazing what he is doing. I couldn’t do it.”

St Leonard’s teacher Lisa Stansfield added: “We just wanted to support him as it’s superb what he is doing.”