CHILDREN at Howes Primary School got active for a day of races as part of their annual Sports Day.

Traditional events at the school, in Palermo Avenue, Cheylesmore, including the sack race and egg and spoon dash took place alongside sprint and javelin contests.

The day ended with an egg and spoon race for the teachers, won by Mr Jones - although calls for a stewards' inquiry have been made. Deputy head Paul Tarry said the sports day capped a fantastic sporting year for the school.

He said: "This year has been a bumper one for sports at Howes with the school football, cricket, rounders and swimming teams all winning competitions."

ALMOST 3,000 women will be lining up in Coombe Abbey tonight to raise money in the Cancer Research Race for Life.

Organisers are hoping the weather is kinder than last year, when heavy rain turned the green fields into a mudbath.

The race is the second in the Coventry area following the run in Stoneleigh Park last month where more than 7,000 women took part despite more terrible weather.

Organiser Vikki Savery said the race at Coombe, which starts at 7pm, is full with 2,700 women signed up to take part.

They will be running, walking or jogging the 5km course, many in memory of loved ones or as survivors of cancer.

Vikki said: "It's the biggest it's ever been at Coombe.

"It's only been going here for three years and each time it gets bigger.

"Last year was a total washout but the women still turned out and took part, raising more than £200,000, so we know bad weather won't deter them. But of course we're still hoping for a bit of sunshine this year."

It is the 16th year Cancer Research has organised Race for Life events around the country.

So far four million people have taken part and the charity has raised more than £240 million towards trying to find a cure for cancer.

A group of young people will be presenting in Coventry to a group of Head teachers from across the region as part of the national SHINE '09 Festival, explaining how they successfully led the learning of Mathematics in their school.

As part of the SHINE Festival, the pupils from Kineton High School, all aged between 11 and 18, will address a meeting of senior teachers from all over Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire.

The young people will describe how and why they successfully took over the teaching of Maths for a day.

They will be also be showing off some of the exciting activities they devised including: the Family Fortunes style game show, The Great Egg Drop, and mask and kite making activities.

They will explain in detail the challenges they faced and the learning achieved.

All the innovative activities took place as part of Cre8us's Creative Partnerships programme. 

Jo Trowsdale, Director of Cre8us said, "We work in partnership with schools to enhance the learning and cultural experiences of young people.

The students at Kineton High School clearly demonstrated that they can successfully drive a project and lead the learning creatively and responsibly in their school.

Through projects like this, we help schools and other organisations that work with young people, to develop new and innovative approaches that enable them to acquire a wide range of creative skills that are vital for the modern world!"

For more information see www.cre8us.org.uk

Binley Woods Allotments Association has just held its annual best kept allotments competition.

David Duffy from Clifton Allotments Association who was invited to judge the competition said: "Generally the standards varied as would be expected where time is of the essence, if you are working then you have less time than if retired, but there were some outstanding plots."

Hughie Sweeny, Secretary of Binley Woods Association, took first place as the best kept allotment.

He said: "There are 40 plots on the site, some are quite large, we have halved some of them to accommodate more people, and there are eight on the waiting list at present.

Children are also involved they attend with parents and grandparents."

A meeting has taken place between Binley Woods Primary School, and the Allotments Association, supported by a spokesman from DEFRA and Parish Council Chairman Paul Salisbury.

Paul said: "We want get the children involved on site with their own allotment; we are looking at funding at present."

By Jon Cleaver

The Coventry based care provider, The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, has won a top award in the Healthcare and Medical Research category at the 2009 National Charity Awards event held recently in London, for its work in improving the lives of people with dementia.

Called the Enriched Opportunities Programme, it has been running since 2002, and is implemented by specially trained support workers known as 'Locksmiths.'

Research carried out with residents who have participated, found that the trend towards improved cognitive function of thinking, reasoning and understanding skills, is prolonged for a longer period, and showed that residents were much less likely to feel depressed, and they rated their quality of life significantly better.

Within the schemes and villages operated by ExtraCare, 268 residents have been directly helped, and 1,127 residents have indirectly benefited, as did the families of residents on the scheme.

Managing Director John Graham OBE who received the award said: "We're delighted to have been chosen for the award, which is reward for the residents, researchers and staff for their hard work on the programme."

Thank you also for donations presented this week including £50 from the Coventry & District Caledonian Society and £100 from Mr Copas.

In last week's column we had in incorrect spelling of one of our contributors.

It was Alan Ledwidge and his family and friends who came all the way from Australia and Ireland for his 50th birthday and were very generous in donating to the Appeal.

We are busy preparing for Myton's Annual Grand Summer Fete which will take place on Sunday July 12 at 12.30.

If you are able to donate plants, fruit & veg, bottles or bake a cake for our Tea Tent and cake stall, we'd love to hear from you.

Another date for your diary is Sunday 28 June. Local folk band The Black Parrot Seaside have organised a 'Concert for Judith' in memory of their guitarist's wife, Judith Chave. The concert will feature local artists and will be held at The Maudslay Hotel, Coventry (no admission fee). More details at www.blackparrotseaside.co.uk

We are looking for people to collect weekly subscriptions from our lottery players in the following areas; Ansty, Ash Green, Barnacle, Bell Green, Binley, Chapelfields, Coundon, Copeswood, Earlsdon, Exhall, Keresley, Shilton, Walsgrave, Whitmore Park, Wood End, Wyken Croft and Bedworth. Commission is paid please contact 01926 838810 for more information.

* Forthcoming Events

June 28 - Sunflower Walk, Coventry. Contact F/R Dept on 01926 838809 or alternatively download the registration form and email completed form to charlotte.ingram@mytonhospice.org

July 12 - Summer Fete in the grounds of Warwick Hospice. Already confirmed to appear is "Jester Jingles" who will be hosting jester academy where all ages can learn skills such as plate spinning and juggling. Admission for adults 50p, children under 12 free. Fete runs from 12.30 - 4.30pm.

* Congratulations to last week's Lottery Prize Draw Winners:

1st Prize of £1,500 No. 14733 from Southam, 2nd Prize of £125 No. 43580 from Coventry and 3rd Prize of £75 No. 254743 from Wellesbourne. To sign up contact our Lottery Team on 01926-407902.

To speak to a member of the Coventry Myton Appeal Fundraising Team please telephone Claire McDowell or Nigel Adams on 01926 838830 or 024 7641 1177.

Donations to the Appeal can be made by sending cheques, payable to 'Coventry Myton Hospice Appeal' to Myton Hospice, Myton Road, Warwick CV34 6PX, or deposited at one of our local charity shops. Or online at:

http://www.justgiving.com/mytonhospice .