Pupils help PC Ian run extra mile...

EVERYONE a winner . . . Irene Barratt, head teacher, Tasiq Ali, head boy, PC Ian Mc Donald and Zoha Arshad, head girl

AN OLDHAM police officer who raised £850 for charity by taking part in a monster marathon has thanked local pupils.

PC Ian McDonald took part in the Baxters Loch Ness marathon in October in aid of Macmillan’s Cancer Support.

The gruelling race follows the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, crosses the River Ness and finishes at Inverness’s Queens Park Stadium.

Pupils at Alexandra Park Primary School, Brook Lane, helped PC McDonald raise sponsorship money for the event.

To thank the children for their hard work, the officer, along with Supt Stuart Goodwin, visited the school to award a certificate to the pupils.

PC McDonald said: “I would like to thank the children for all their hard work in helping me to raise money for this very worthy cause.

“This certificate is just a small token of my appreciation.”

Supt Stuart Goodwin said: “I am very proud of the efforts put in by the children and by PC McDonald. The money raised will go a long way to help Macmillan Cancer Support.” Irene Barratt, head teacher, said: “PC McDonald has fast become an invaluable member of our school community and we felt it was very important to support him with his fund-raising. We held a non-uniform day and the children donated £1 each for the privilege, raising £125 for this worthy cause.”