Students finish 100-mile coastal path charity run

A group of students from a Devon college have completed a 100-mile (161km) coastal path run for charity.

The three-day endurance event involved students from Bicton College's Military and Protective Services (MaPS) Academy.

A total of 80 runners took part in the challenge, between Studland beach in Dorset and Budleigh Salterton in Devon.

The Baton of Bicton event raised more than £7,000 for the RNLI and the Royal Marines Charity.

The gruelling challenge involved covering at least 40 miles (64km) over each of the first two days, finishing with 20 miles (32km) on the final day.

Those who took part said it required a lot of mental strength.

"Waking up when you've had no sleep, and the commitment of when you know what your body has just done and having the mental capacity to go 'I've got to push, I've got to keep going', that is one of the hardest points of it," said one one runner.

A baton, a symbol of inclusivity, teamwork, resilience and self-determination, was carried along the way.

"You see them really bonding and supporting each other." said teacher Stuart Cavin of the students.

"Lots of runners ran lots of miles, others needed help to do that and, of course, at the end the elation of coming in together was so, so special for them.

"I'm sure, like me they'll remember this for the rest of their lives," he said.

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