Grade 8 student Rohan Eastley has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement, muscle control and balance.

A teacher’s aide, who works with Rohan, suggested Steptember, a fundraising challenge that gets participants up and active, challenging them to take 10,000 steps a day for 28 days.

Deloraine High created six teams of four, made up of teaching staff and non-teaching staff, including cleaners and the canteen worker.

Assistant principal Angela Gatti said it was the perfect time of year to get back outside.

“It’s an issue that’s close to our hearts as well and anything we can do to raise funds to help with research and support with cerebral palsy, we’re really keen to do that,” she said.

“We also thought this time of the year was just a really great time to get people up out of their office chairs for the month.”

Even the students have become involved, helping to fundraise for the teams.

“We go around everyday to the different classes and ask the students if they want to donate money to a particular team,” student executive council member Kate Sheahan said.

“So if they have a favourite teacher who they want to see do something funny at the end, then they’ll donate money towards them.

“Some of the things are, wear school uniform for a day or spray paint their hair or get the student council to do their makeup and then they have to wear it for a day.”

If the student raises $50, the teacher they raise the money for then has to participate in one of those challenges on the last day of term.

School principal Lee Barker said Steptember was a great opportunity to support the wellbeing of staff members as well as raising money for a good cause.

“It’s been great because the teams are made up of teaching and non-teaching staff and it’s really become a bit of fun and really reconnecting with one another, building positive attitudes.”