A HARTFORD school rowed their way to the Gambia in a bid to raise money for education in the country.

The Grange School’s Row to the Gambia Challenge saw students, staff, parents, ex-pupils and governors taking to the rowing machine and covering the 4,615-kilometre distance to the Gambian town of Brikama.

The school beat its target by raising more than £6,000 during the challenge on Friday.

Graham Jump, rowing coach: “It’s wonderful, the challenge was to raise £1 per kilometre and we’ve surpassed that so anything more we raise is a bonus. But it’s excellent as all the extra donations mean we can do more for the school in the Gambia now.”

Over the past 17 years the Grange School has supported the development of education in Brikama and has provided education to an estimated 3,500 young people and impacted more than 7,000 through employment and other oportunities.

Project Gambia originally supported the development of the Kunta Kinteh School and more recently has facilitated the setting up of the Darul Akram School for seven to 11 year olds.

Headmaster Chris Jeffery, who visited Brikama for the first time with a group of Grange students in February, said: “I was struck forcibly when I visited the Darul Akram School by the outstanding dedication and commitment of those Gambians who run and support it. We are determined to do what we can to support their efforts and provide sustainable educational opportunities currently denied to many. Our students are enthusiastic in support of that goal, it really matters to very many of them.”

Money raised from the Row to the Gambia Challenge will provide funding for a new classroom block to enable up to 200 children-per-day to receieve an elementary education.