A CHARITABLE teacher at a Whitefield school has picked up the baton from her pupils as she prepares for a marathon challenge.

Maddie Smith, a teacher at St Bernadette’s RC Primary School, is running the Brighton Marathon on Sunday (April 12) in aid of Grace’s Place, the proposed new children's hospice in Radcliffe,

The 28-year-old, originally from Ramsbottom, started the initiative after the school set up a running club for pupils, which inspired teachers to start running for charity, and has encouraged her fellow teachers to take part in the Manchester 10k.

Miss Smith has already smashed her original target of £400 on fundraising website Just Giving, and is hoping to collect at least £800.

She said: “We have already done a lot of work for Grace’s Place within the school, so it was a natural choice to try and raise money for.

“Everyone has been really generous with their donations.”