School Elf Runs raise thousands for Wirral Hospice St John’s

Published on: 11/01/2021

Sixteen of Wirral’s schools, including Hayfield specialist school, took part in the 2020 ‘Elf and Rudolph Runs’ involving hundreds of children in aid of Wirral Hospice St John’s.

Inspired by 2019’s successful Rudolph Run the schools enthusiastically signed up to encourage their youngsters to take part in a walk or run, part of their PE lessons and in their class bubbles in circuits around their playing areas, to help raise the funds.

Because of COVID regulations hospice staff were not able to visit schools so a special video was prepared featuring hospice mascot, John Bear, which sensitively outlined the work of the hospice.

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

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

The schools who took part were, Bedford Drive, Bidston Village C of E Primary, Brackenwood Juniors, Church Drive Primary, Greasby Juniors, Hayfield School, Irby Primary, Ladymount Primary, Manor Primary, Mendell Primary, Our Lady of Pity Catholic School, Sandbrook Primary, St Joseph’s C of E Primary, St Werburgh’s Catholic Primary, Well Lane Primary School and Westminster Community Primary.

A magnificent £20,000 has been raised with some donations still trickling in. All the schools are being presented with a commemorative Elf/Rudolph Run Christmas 2020 certificate of thanks from the hospice.

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

Sarah Burgess, fundraising officer at Wirral Hospice St John’s, said,

“We owe a massive thank you to all the children, their teachers, head-teachers, teaching assistants and other staff from the schools who supported our 2020 Elf Run. Thanks also to all their families and friends who made very generous donations to the hospice. We heard everyone had so much fun and we’ll be hoping to bring 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 2021.”