SCHOOLCHILDREN took part in a festive-themed fun run that raised £14,000 for Wirral Hospice St John's.

Hundreds of children from nine primary schools across the borough put on their running shoes for the event in December.

The money raised has now been counted. Every penny will help pay towards the specialist nursing care and support provided by the hospice. 

Pupils had been visited by hospice mascot, John Bear, in special assemblies which sensitively outlined the work of the hospice and to encourage the youngsters to take part in a walk or run in circuits around their school playing areas to help raise the funds.

Sponsor forms were prepared for the kids to take home and families and friends responded, as they always do, positively and generously.

A spokesperson for the hospice told the Globe: "Everyone enjoyed dressing up in antlers and red noses to add seasonal cheer on the day of their Rudolph Run and many reported it helped their preparations for Christmas a great deal of fun."

The schools taking part were St Werburgh’s Catholic in Birkenhead, Woodchurch Church of England Primary, Our Lady of Pity RC, Mendell, Christ the King Catholic, Sandbrook, Bedford Drive, Brackenwood, Church Drive and Overchurch Junior School.

All schools were presented with a commemorative Thank You certificate.

Sarah Burgess, fundraising officer at Wirral Hospice St John’s, said: "We owe a massive thank you to all the teachers, head-teachers, teaching assistants and other staff from the schools who supported our first Rudolph Run, as well as all the families and friends of all the children, who made a generous donation to the hospice.

"It was so much fun and we’re looking forward, already, to facilitating the whole show again later this year."