A STUDLEY skipping club has raised more than £1,200 towards Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s £4 million Children’s Cancer Centre Appeal.

A group of 56 skippers from Jump Rope UK have raised £1,250 for the appeal, during a 24-hour treadmill challenge.

Aged between five and 27, each fundraiser ran for 10 minute intervals on two treadmills during the 24 hour sprint. Many runners brought sleeping bags with them so that they could sleep in between spurring on their teammates.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s £4 million Cancer Centre Appeal was selected as the beneficiary charity as club coach Rachael Dale had spent some time at the hospital when she was a child.

The 24 year old, from Studley, who has been skipping since the age of eight, said: “The event was about bringing people together to fundraise for Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s Cancer Centre Appeal. We had two treadmills on the go, each treadmill would switch over every 10 minutes, but we staggered the times of each one so there was never a point when both treadmills were stopped.

“A huge thank you to Arrow Valley Health Club in Redditch which allowed us to use its gym, and provided us with space to sleep and keep our supplies.”

There’s only £500,000 left to raise before the hospital reaches its £4 million target. The appeal will fund new facilities and accommodation which will include age-appropriate play zones, better communal areas for families and an improved outpatient area. The 30-year-old unit has completely outgrown its current environment.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital public fundraising manager, Vikki Savery, said: "We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part and supported the 24 hour treadmill challenge. Our fundraisers are always coming up with exciting new ways of fundraising for our patients and their families, so we are delighted with Jump Rope UK’s dedication and stamina for our £4 million appeal.”

Anyone who would like to support the appeal can visit bch.org.uk, email events@bch.nhs.uk or call 0121 3338506.