BIG-HEARTED students clubbed together to raise thousands of pounds during a charity week.

Manningtree High School held their annual charity week at the end of December with what they described as “incredible” results.

The entire school community came together to raise a staggering £7,903 and send more than 30 boxes of food to the Manningtree Foodbank.

Each tutor group was given a box and asked to complete a reverse advent calendar, with a different student adding an item each day for the food bank.

The money was raised in a variety of ways including raffles, cake stalls, competitions and sweet shops.

Each class was given £10 and had to invest in a venture which would make more money.

One group sold candy floss while another invested their money in their own car wash business and a third launched a successful face painting business.

There were also whole school events such as the keenly contested Manningtree’s Got Talent and a fitness bleep test.

Some brave members of staff ate bugs and took part in a number of challenges in I’m a Teacher, Get Me out of Here! and students gladly threw wet sponges at staff throughout the week for a small charge.

The whole school also took part in a mannequin challenge and a film was afterwards put together.

One charitable pupil, Sam Gardiner, ran continuously for two hours to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young, the charity which funds research into sudden cardiac death in youngsters.

It also subsidises teenage testing.

The school held a celebration assembly at the end of the challenges and were able to issue the cheques to various charities.

Mr Farrow, assistant headteacher, said: “It was an amazing week.

“To raise that amount of money is brilliant particularly as all the activities took place during lunchtime and break.

“The students have been so inventive this year and should be very proud for their efforts.”