SVELT students hula hooped for 30 hours to raise funds for research into a life-limiting illness.

The gang of four – Abby Hornett, 22, Harriet Geddis, 19, and sisters Rebecca, 21, and Sophie, 19, Lenihan – undertook the marathon challenge to raise money for Action Duchenne – a charity dedicated to research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The epic fundraiser was led off by Abby whose cousin, Ben, has the muscle-wasting condition.

Ben, who is a student at Colchester Sixth Form College, is already wheelchair-dependent.

The students, who all live in Colchester, raised £1,710 through their endeavours.

Abby’s mum, Angela Culhane, said the group are absolutely exhausted.

She said: “It went really well but despite the girls being rather bruised they survived.

“They were supported by lots of friends and family, who helped them last the time with all their moral support and cheering.”

The money will be donated to support a fundraising challenge being undertaken by Duchenne MD sufferers Aaron and Jack Ebanks.

The brothers, who are 18 and 16, are aiming to break the world record for travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in powered wheelchairs and are aiming to complete the 874-mile journey is 23 days.

In addition to raising awareness of the condition, the students are also supporting the bid to raise money specifically for research into Duchenne MD in older boys.

To support the Colchester fundraising appeal, please visit www.justgiving.com/hulacountdown.