We helped break the record – Comic Relief fundraisers young and old did their bit to help the national charity appeal hit new heights on Friday as this year’s effort passed the £17 million mark.

The Comet: Giles Junior School students and teachers get together for Red Nose DayGiles Junior School students and teachers get together for Red Nose Day (Image: Archant)

• Pupils at The Thomas Alleyne Academy raised money for Red Nose Day in a variety of ways, including painting their teachers’ faces. The school in Stevenage High Street held a week-long non-uniform day, sold red noses and had pupils playing dodgeball with all proceeds going to the charity.

• Staff and customers at Specsavers in Stevenage managed to raise more than £1,000 on Friday. The store in Queensway sold comedy glasses with furry eyebrows and held a raffle.

The Comet: Staff from Hitchin Boys' School join in the fun. L-R): Mrs Freeman, Mr Howie, Mrs Del-Rio Burns, Mr Shergold, Dr Paterson, Mrs Maddocks, Mrs Johnson and Miss Oliva.Staff from Hitchin Boys' School join in the fun. L-R): Mrs Freeman, Mr Howie, Mrs Del-Rio Burns, Mr Shergold, Dr Paterson, Mrs Maddocks, Mrs Johnson and Miss Oliva. (Image: Archant)

• Students at The Nobel School raised £500 prior to Red Nose Day so that their headteacher would spend the day dressed in a ’70s disco costume. The Stevenage secondary school in Mobbsbury Way paid £1 each to vote for head Martyn Henson to wear the outfit all day. The school also raised money with face painting, a photo booth and a sweepstake for staff.

• Staff and children at Woolenwick Infant and Nursery School raised £344. Everyone at the school in Stevenage dressed in red and made their faces funny for money for the charity.

The Comet: Stonehill SchoolStonehill School (Image: Archant)

• Year 6 students Alexia Howard, Molly Heaps and Amy Wenderling at Giles Junior School choreographed their own dance routine which was performed simultaneously by the whole school during an assembly. In another challenge, the same three pupils from the Stevenage school performed a 25-hour dance marathon at the weekend, raising more than £350.

• Pupils and staff from Hitchin Boys’ School raised more than £3,500 – with more to come – by taking part in charades, marshmallow-eating and through music groups entertaining passers-by in the town’s Market Place.

The Comet: Giles Junior School pupils Lexi Howard, Amy Wenderling and Molly Heaps took part in a 25-hour dance marathon for Red Nose Day after choreographing a routine for the whole school.Giles Junior School pupils Lexi Howard, Amy Wenderling and Molly Heaps took part in a 25-hour dance marathon for Red Nose Day after choreographing a routine for the whole school. (Image: Archant)

• Fundraisers in fancy dress at Lawrence Dean Recruitment hosted a cake sale for the cause on Red Nose Day. The firm’s efforts at its Business and Technology Centre base in Stevenage raised £630 after being doubled by the company’s directors.

• Charitable children from St Mary’s Junior School in Baldock raised more than £500 by dressing in red and taking part in a baking competition. Winners of the cake competition were Rhys Leadbetter (Year 3), William Murphy (Year 4), Gabriella Carter (Year 5) and Jack Lunnon (Year 6).

• Youngsters at Stonehill School in Letchworth took part in a raffle draw with the winners getting the honour to splat their teachers with custard and cream flans. The school raised a total of £526 by having a non–uniform day, a cake sale and a talent show. The winner of the talent show was the Dream Makers, a group of four Year 5 girls who preformed a gymnastic routine to music.

• Clifton All Saints Academy pupils followed the example of Dermot O’Leary and danced the day away. Children got their rhythm shoes on to dance to classic hits throughout the entire school day, with red noses aplenty on show. The pupils were then invited to make a voluntary donation after enjoying their boogying efforts for the good cause.