COMMONWEALTH Games gymnast Harry Owen paid a visit to Marden Vale School in Calne to mark Sports Relief.

The sports personality dropped in to the school on Friday to give a talk to the pupils on the importance of staying active and how to have a healthy diet.

Mr Owen, 22, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic event, it is all to do with Sports For Champions which aims to bring motivation and ambition for sports back into schools. We did a fitness circuit with the Year 6s then the one hour talk.”

From Sports Relief activities the school raised over £2,500 for the sport budget, with 40 per cent going to the Sports For Champions scheme which will fund training and medical costs for British athletes.

Claire Williams, PE subject teacher at Marden Vale, said: “The children were inspired by having Harry visit. They raised so much money which shows how they feel about having a visit from an athlete, we have never raised such an amount before, and it is rather overwhelming.

"The day was a real success, 100 per cent of the children took part and we just want to say what a wonderful day it has been.

"All of the children have had a fantastic time and so have the staff.”

The school visits from athletes acts as a way of raising the profile of the school while also encouraging children to think about healthy lifestyles and staying active.

Barry Emmanuel, director of Sports For Champions, said: “Harry has visited a lot of schools, we sponsor fitness and 40 per cent of what the school raises goes into our athlete’s pot. We just ask schools to do what they can.

"Marden Vale raised over £2,500, it’s amazing - a large portion of that will go into the PE budget.”

If schools would like to find out how to be paid a visit by an athlete for Sports For Champions visit www.sportsforchampions.com or call 011 348 8995.

  • More Sports Relief stories and pictures to follow online and in your Gazette & Herald this week