BUSINESSES, schools and organisations around the town will be working up a sweat tomorrow to help support people around the world through Sport Relief.

Last week, students at Churchfields Academy kickstarted the fundraising with a number of different activities, including a battle between the staff and students in a cricket match, a danceathon and an opportunity to soak their teachers with soggy sponges.

Meanwhile, at Nationwide Build-ing Society yesterday, six sporty volunteers took on the challenge to cycle from headquarters in Pipers Way all the way to Nationwide’s new Threadneedle Street office in London for the cause.

Tony Broughton, an IT manager at Nationwide, was one of the team of six who took part in the challenge.

He said: “Probably the biggest hill time was at Liddington so we completed that nice and early. The wind was behind us and the sun was just about appearing so the conditions were pretty positive.

“So far as a team we have raised over £1,000 for Sport Relief through this which will go towards the Nationwide total.”

The challenge was part of Nationwide’s Around the World in 80 Ways initiative, launched by Olympic gold medalist rower Sophie Hosking last October, to encourage staff to work together to travel 25,600 environmentally friendly miles – the equivalent of going around the world.

So far staff have managed to travel 20,249 miles and raise £71,522 for the cause.

Supporting the cyclists in the back up vehicle was Andy Kirk, from Performance Cycles in Poulton.

He said: “I think they have done really well.

“We always like to get involved with these kinds of things and support where we can.”

On the day itself, Nationwide’s Pegasus House will be the building society’s largest call centre with around 160 people manning the phone lines as people call in to donate.

But it will not just be building societies getting involved in the big day, with students at Kingsdown School in Stratton competing against staff in an all-day row-a-thon.

At Covingham Park Primary School, youngsters will be taking part in an early morning aerobic session to pop music to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile, at Churchfields Academy, youngsters will take part in the Sport Relief Mile around the school field to take their total even higher, and the day will also host the finals for the Year 7 inter-tutor group egg and spoon race.

Older students at New College will also be getting sporty for Sport Relief by taking part in the Sport Relief mile.

Fiona Simpson, enrichment co- ordinator at New College, said: “For Sport Relief at New College we are encouraging staff and students to pay £1 and wear sporty clothes for the day.

“We are also hoping to have some exercise bikes available to students who will then sponsor each other to cycle a mile.”

There is still time to do your bit for Sport Relief. For more information and to find out what events are going on near you, log on to www.sportrelief.com.