ALTRINCHAM businesses are supporting a 'back to school' challenge' to raise funds for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RMCH).

On the week that children go back to school - 12 local businesses and community groups in Altrincham will be doing a triathlon in Pure Gym on September 8.

The event - billed as the 12 times table will be taking place in the gym rather than the classroom - will see them tackle a two kilometre row, a five kilometre cycle and ending with a five kilometre run.

Altrincham HQ and Pure Gym have come together to put on the event.

Organiser Alex McCann, of Altrincham HQ, explained how the fundraiser came about.

He said: "Last year I did a Santa Run in aid of Declan's Decathlon - one of the many children that the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital has helped over the past 13 years and still continues to help to this day.

"I got to find out and see how much the RMCH do on a daily basis and felt we had to launch an annual event.

"The children's hospital have got strong links with Altrincham, recently choosing the town as their official cheering point for the Manchester Marathon. 

"When I kept chatting to people about what they remember from their school days the 12x table kept coming up time and time again.

"It inspired this idea that if we could do a Twelve Times table triathlon style in a gym it would be a real challenge for people at the same time as raising vital funds for the hospital.

"Most of the people taking part have never ran more than 5k before - so to add in all the triathlon elements is really tough.

"Altrincham Businesses and Community Groups really know how to come together when it matters for important charity events like this."

The event takes place on September 8 at Pure Gym Altrincham

People can donate via Justgiving https://www.justgiving.com/backtoschoolchallenge or Text Donations : Text BTSC50 £10 to 70070.