HUNDREDS of schoolchildren took part in a festive-themed fun run that raised £27,000 for Wirral Hospice St John's.

Every penny raised from the Rudolf and Elf Runs will help pay towards the specialist nursing care and support provided by the hospice.

Pupils from 27 Wirral schools took part.

In the run up to the events, and sometimes just before, schools were visited by popular hospice mascot, John Bear, to give the children a ‘warm up’ and, alongside hospice staff, to sensitively explain the work of the hospice.

Wirral Globe:

Pupils from Brackenwood Juniors who took part in Rudolf Run

A spokesperson for the hospice said: "An absolutely wonderful £27,000 has been raised with a large number of donations still to come in after the Christmas holidays.

"On the day each school picked for its own run, everyone enjoyed dressing up in their Rudolph antlers and noses, and other Christmas attire, to bring some much needed seasonal cheer, with everyone reporting that it really helped their school’s preparations for Christmas."

The schools taking part were:

  • Bidston Village Primary
  • Brookhurst Primary
  • Brackenwood Infants and Junior Schools
  • Christ the King Primary
  • Church Drive Primary
  • Egremont Primary
  • Greanleas Primary
  • Great Meols Primary
  • Grove Street Primary
  • Heygarth Primary
  • Hayfield School
  • Higher Bebington Juniors
  • Ladymount Primary
  • Manor Primary
  • Mendell Primary
  • Our Lady and St Edwards Primary
  • Our Lady of Pity Primary
  • Overchurch Juniors
  • Park Primary
  • Sandbrook Primary
  • St Albans Primary
  • St Anne's Primary (Rock Ferry)
  • St Joseph's Primary School
  • St Peters Primary
  • Well Lane Primary
  • Westminster Community Primary.

All the schools are being presented with a commemorative Rudolph Run Christmas 2021 certificate of thanks from the hospice.

Every penny raised will go towards the expert specialist nursing care, pain management and patients and family support that is delivered every single day at our local adult hospice.

Wirral Globe:

Pupils from Christ The King who took part in Rudolf Run

Sarah Burgess, community and events fundraisers at Wirral Hospice St John's, said: "It's been another fantastic year.

"It's so heartwarming and inspirational to see all the children, their teachers, head-teachers, teaching assistants and other staff from the schools who supported our 2021 Rudolph Run.

Wirral Globe:

Pupils from Church Drive who took part in Rudolf Run

Sarah continued: "A massive thank you goes also, of course, to the children’s families and friends who make their most generous donations to the hospice.

"We heard everyone had so much fun and we'll definitely bringing John Bear back to the schools later on in the year to say his personal thanks to everyone and hopefully to arrange another Christmas event in 2022."