PUPILS will plod around their playground to raise cash for people with special needs.

Manor Preparatory School will host a sponsored walk on Wednesday to raise money for KEEN, an Oxfordshire charity which provides sports and social events for children and adults with disabilities or learning difficulties.

The whole school, in Shippon near Abingdon, will take part alongside an adventurer who will cheer them on.

Kerry Arnold, spokeswoman for the school which teaches children aged 2 to 11, said: "The children of The Manor are delighted to be supporting KEEN.

"They have been inspired by ex-marine and personal trainer Tom Alden who has given two assemblies, one about his row across the Atlantic Ocean and more recently about his upcoming participation in the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert. On the day if they wish, the children can even choose to dress like Tom during his desert adventures with peaked caps, rucksacks and water bottles."

They will set off around the school grounds at 2.30pm, walking round the school field in hope of raising £5,000 for KEEN.

The Oxford-based charity, which is linked to Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University, provides social, sporting and recreational activities for 200 people in the county with special needs.

Manor Preparatory School has already raised £575 and more donations are welcome via justgiving.com/ManorPrep.