The Speaking Out For Animals (SOFA) Club at Thorpe House Langley Preparatory School has raised more than �700 for Hillside Animal Sanctuary.

After reading an article in the Evening News regarding the difficulties that Hillside was facing, SOFA members at the Thorpe St Andrew school decided to take action.

They set a challenge to pupils to bounce around on a pogo stick for 30 minutes solid, and had great success in raising sponsorship money for Hillside, which is based near Spixworth.

SOFA leader Sue Cole said: 'Everyone worked hard and when it came to the challenge day, most participants kept on their pogos for the whole 30 minutes.

'It was an amazingly successful event and we managed to raise the staggering sum of �708.62!

'One SOFA supporter, Jonty Pearcey, broke all records for gaining sponsors and managed to achieve a totally amazing sum of �357!

'Jonty is an absolute star and very much appreciated supporter of SOFA.

'We are so grateful to the parents and friends for generously supporting this challenge and who made it possible for us to take such a fabulous amount of money to this very deserving animal sanctuary.'

The SOFA Club then visited Hillside to hand over the money raised from the sponsored pogo stick challenge.

Staff at Hillside and its founder, Wendy Valentine, thanked the children for what they had done and showed them some of the work they carry out to care for rescued, unwanted and cruelly treated animals.

Wendy told the children that none of their work would be possible without the generosity of so many people and clubs like SOFA. Ms Cole added: 'As their teacher I would just like to add that I am so proud of these young people, whose ages range from seven to 10.

'They are so keen to help animals and to continue the work that SOFA has done for animals in the past.'

Visit www.speaking-out-for-animals.co.uk to find out more about the SOFA Club.

Are you raising money for a worthy cause? Contact Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk