The North East Martial Arts Academy, which runs classes at Jesmond Swimming Pool and at West Jesmond primary school, has raised more than £1,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

The Academy hosted a “Kickathon” – a sponsored kicking event to try to raise money. The original intention was that all proceeds would be used to help Faye-Louise Farthing, who runs the academy, represent England at the next Taekwon-Do World Cup (the sport receives no official funding). But after 82 students from Jesmond, Gosforth, Longbenton and Whitley Bay took part and completed almost 10,000 kicks, Farthing decided to donate half the money to charity.