ON Saturday morning, the small, quiet village of Trusham was buzzing with 15 excited children, aged four to 13.

They gathered to fulfil a fundraising challenge dreamed up by William Slatcher, assisted by friends at the back of the school bus – a Trusham Triathlon.

The day arrived, the weather was kind and the organisation superb. Hazel Smethurst described the event: ‘First we cycled four lengths of the village.

‘It was tiring, but good fun. ‘Next we all ran one or two laps. ‘Finally we swam.

‘I didn’t mind the cold water, this was my favourite bit. ‘From one boy’s germ of an idea, to do something to help others, these 15 children raised an amazing £1,500 for Ukrainian children and lifted the spirits of those who watched.’