'I'm a pupil... get me out!'

Children at St Joseph's RC primary school in Shaw testing expedition food with teacher Steve Hill. Mr Hill is off to the jungle to take part in a charity endurance run. PIC shows Olivia Holden.

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SCHOOL pupils were busy trialling jungle food to help their deputy headteacher as he gears up for an ultra marathon through the rainforest.

Children at St Joseph's RC Primary School, Shaw, spent an afternoon tasting and sampling dried, rehydrated foods as well as powdered food, gels and energy bars.

The Jungle Ultra food-tasting session was organised by deputy headteacher Steve Hill as he gears up for a gruelling 250km Jungle Ultra Marathon next month.

Steve, who was made an MBE in 2014, said: "I wanted the children to be involved in the planning, so we thought they could try out some of the expedition food and help me choose what to take.

"I was very impressed at how open-minded they were.

"The children pulled some faces, especially at the porridge with strawberries. They weren't particularly keen on the liquid shakes either because they aren't very sweet.

"But the chicken tikka, korma and noodles went down well. Everything was eaten up. They really enjoyed it."

He added: "These are good, tasty nutritional meals, which are highly calorific, to keep me going in the Amazon."

Steve will fly to Peru for the six-day race at the end of May, during which time he must be entirely self-sufficient, carrying his food, bedding, survival equipment and other gear.

The ultra marathon forms part of Mr Hill's Challenges - a succession of exploits he undertakes every year.

He said: "This is a different challenge and I'm a bit apprehensive. But I do this to raise money and hopefully inspire the children to dream big and to believe they can achieve anything in life with the right attitude and determination."

Steve and his Year 6 class are raising money for Dr Kershaw's Hospice, in Royton, Ward 84 at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Parkinson's UK, Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity, Chernobyl Children's Life Line and the school's Parent-Teacher Association.

A JustGiving page for the causes has so far raised more than £1,070. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Steve-Hill-232.

• Check out more pictures with Steve Hill on our picture sales page.