Youngsters and people connected with a school in the north of the island joined forces to spend a large part of their summer holidays walking the coastal path.

They completed the Raad-ny-Foillan to raise funds to support a classmate who has leukaemia.

The whole adventure was carefully planned in stages and everyone involved was delighted to have been involved, said Shirley Hope, education support officer at Jurby School.

Mrs Hope told the Manx Independent that the walk was a fundraising effort to help Class three pupil Charlee Hodgson, aged 10, as she battles the disease which was diagnosed in February.

Mrs Hope and her three children, Isaac, 13, Alfie, 11, and Lillie, nine, were among adults and youngsters who put their best foot forward to complete the 100-mile trek going in an anti-clockwise direction, which started and finished at Jurby beach.

She said: ’We broke the walk up into 12 sections and we only did each one as it came. We did about two walks each week.

’Some of the sections were shorter than others. Some days we were walking for about nine hours and other days we would be done in six hours.

’We certainly had a lot of fun along the way and we went at a rate that suited the children and they had a great time.’

Also among those who took part was teacher Jillian Cranmer and her two children Annabel, 12, and Olivia, 10.

It was also a personal challenge for Mrs Cranmer as she overcame the chronic fatigue syndrome called ME to complete nearly half of the walk.

The trek also proved to be a ’logistical challenge’ for the hardy group with transport arrangements for the start and end of walks.

The group were agreed that one of the toughest parts of the walk was the hilly section between Niarbyl and Port Erin.

But Mrs Hope said there were lots of ’hidden gems’ along the way and recommended the coastal walk as a perfect way of exploring the island.

The walkers originally planned to raise £500 from the walk but as we went to press the sponsorship total stood at £920.

The school has also been involved in other charity opportunities this year which have also resulted in help for causes including Alder Hey hospital, Wish upon a Dream, the children’s ward at Noble’s Hospital and a charity called Milly’s Smiles which provides treat packages for youngsters who have to go to hospital.