STEVE Hill’s taste for adventure dished up bowlfuls of sizzling Sub-Saharan hospitality – including fried grasshopper – during a trip helping to make a powerful impact on poor and destitute youngsters.

Before battling pushing himself to his physical limits to endure the dusty heat of the Uganda Marathon, the St Joseph’s RC Primary School deputy head spent a life-changing week helping to leave a lasting legacy for locals in the town of Masaka.

Steve and fellow runners got stuck into making a difference to grass roots projects to support local organisations which are creating real change in rural communities in the region.

He spent time at The Ddembe Home which rehabilitates Ugandan youngsters living rough on the streets of Masaka who are often addicted to drugs and alcohol.

He also visited Masaka Vocational Rehabilitation Centre where he helped build plastic bottle recycle bins using up-cycled materials and equipment. It was then on to the Masaka Recyling Centre where he and the team where involved in creating gardens using recycled plastic to provide crops to feed the children at the Smile Orphange.

He was treated to an emotive experience at a local school which he says really tugged at his teacher’s heartstrings.

“It was an amazing day and a great privilege to visit the Bugabira Primary School and meet the fantastic children and staff there,” Steve told us.

“They have so little but are so happy and enthusiastic in all they do. We built them some keyhole gardens and a new netball court and then challenged them to some matches. A very special day and one I’ll never forget.”

His school skills came in handy in helping to organise a “Kids Run Wild” sports days for children from the local villages including three-legged races, football and egg and spoon contests.

After a rest day and a cooking class African style the gruelling 26-miler in the country renowned as the home of long-distance running, dawned.

But it wasn’t stamina, strength and fitness which propelled the fundraising athlete - who has tackled everything from the Amazon Jungle and Petra Desert to the Arctic, and a fair few mountains in between.

It was “smile power”.

Joined by children from the villages he ran through and locals who came along for the jog, he said: “It was most amazing race ever. I didn’t stop smiling for the whole 26.2 miles! I made memories that will last a lifetime.”

As always inspiring Steve – who teaches his Year 6 youngsters to be ambitious and follow their dreams - was also raising money for his close-to-heart charities Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Cancer Research, RSPCA Oldham, St Joseph's PTA and Supporting Shane, a fund which helps out Year 6 pupil, Shane Keating, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.