An ambitious fundraising project to raise �500,000 for a Norwich complex needs school begins today.

Staff and friends of The Clare School, in the Golden Triangle area of Norwich, are setting off on a two-day hike today to try and get the fund kick-started.

The project, entitled 'Care for Clare', is raising the money so that the school can purchase a hydrotherapy pool for its pupils.

Lucy Fawcett, 28, organiser of the Hunstanton to Cromer hike, explains: 'Many of our children have severe complex needs and quite often they are unable to use their bodies fully. Hydrotherapy pools allow people to move without anyone's help.

'It means they can move independently and that can be hugely beneficial.'

The hikes begins today, with a target of completing 24 miles each day and to arrive in the Wellington pub in Cromer by 5pm tomorrow afternoon.

The walkers are hoping to raise more than �2,000.

Seven of the 12 taking part in the walk work at The Clare School and they are: Lucy Fawcett, Vicki English, Stacey Kemp, Julie Hatfield, Cathy Hullett, Sarah Scott and Becky King.

Lucy, from Aldborough, whose partner, Paul, 30, is a personal trainer and suggested the trek, added: 'We wanted to do something local that didn't involve too much travelling because that costs money and kind of defies the point of us raising money. This is the first event of the project though and we really wanted to kick-start the fundraising.

'We are obviously not going to raise too much of the target, because �500,000 is a lot of money, but we are just getting going and there are lots of other events being planned.'

Ray Heart, premises manager and a former teacher of more than 20 years at the school, is currently in the process of applying for charitable grants.

Ray, 60 and from Hellesdon, said: 'Unlike the majority of complex needs schools, the school doesn't have a hydrotherapy pool, which can allow people to do all sorts of amazing things. It will allow some pupils to reduce drug therapies and allow some movement where there has been none before.

'So we had to make a start somewhere to prove we are serious about raising the money and got some money in the bank, and the hike will do that for us.'

An online donations page has not yet been set up for the Care for Clare project. If you would like to donate, email Lucy on lilac_lu83@yahoo.co.uk

- Is your school organising a fundraising event? Contact Local life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk