A TEAM of 16 students joined an ‘old-boy’ from Haslingden High School on a charity run.

Businessman Ilyas Khan, who used to own Accrington Stanley, is the president of Leonard Cheshire Disability, an international charity which helps the disabled people.

Mr Khan was part of a team completing the Dambusters Run to run 700 miles in seven days. Ilyas was completing the equivalent of seven marathons in seven days.

One of the students who joined him on a three-mile stretch in Blackburn was Shauna Williamson, 14, from year nine. She said: “Many of the students who took part are also members of Rossendale Harriers. We set off from Thwaites in Blackburn to complete the run and it was at a pretty slow pace. It was good to lend support though.”

Leonard Cheshire was the name of the first Squadron leader of 617 Squadron, nicknamed the Dambusters.

Also taking part were students from Stonyhurst College, the Accrington Stanley team and their manager, James Beattie.

Erika Wilson, a PE teacher, said: “The three younger boys were excited to meet James and they had their photo taken with him, while Madison Jamison and Nicole Kershaw are horse-mad and spent ages stroking the Thwaites’ shire horses.”