Young Widnes Vikings put their best foot forward for charity

Members of the squad fundraised £239.67 for The Mayor's dedicated charities after agreeing to complete 10,000 steps per day for 30 consecutive days for Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support and Widnes Fellowship Centre.

The Mayor of Halton attended the Widnes Vikings Development Squad training session to meet the children who had taken part in the challenge.

The squad is made up of year six and seven schoolboys from across Halton who take part in rugby league coaching as a first step on the pathway with Widnes Vikings.

The president of the squad, Roger Harrison MBE, said: "We were delighted that the boys and staff of the Widnes Vikings Schoolboys Development Project were able to support the Mayor's steps challenge.

"The boys and their parents acknowledge that being involved in our unique project places them in a very privileged position.

"Therefore it is important that they realise that, where possible, they should use their position to put something back into their community.

"The Mayor's steps challenge was an ideal vehicle for this.

"The boys, staff and parents were thrilled and impressed that the Mayor of Halton, Councillor John Bradshaw and Mayoress, Councillor Marjorie Bradshaw, were able to find time in their busy schedule to accept the cheque from the boys in person and present the boys with a certificate marking their involvement - a touching memento."

Councillor John Bradshaw said this was also an ideal opportunity for people to get active.

He added: "The initial response has been good and we’d like to encourage more people to get involved.

"You can sign up as an individual, as part of a group or workplace team, a school or a sports group.

"We’ve already seen Widnes Vikings Development Squad and Windmill Hill Primary school sign up, so it’s fantastic to see youngsters supporting the challenge and starting to get their steps in."

Anyone interested can contact chris.featherstone@halton.gov.uk.