Schools and nurseries across Bolton have raised an incredible amount of over £32,000 during December to fund the care given to patients and their families at Bolton Hospice on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

This is the second year running that schools have been invited to take part in the hospice’s festive Elf Run campaign, which has paid for the last two Christmases with their record-breaking fundraising efforts!

Kathryn Willett, Corporate and Community Lead at Bolton Hospice, says:

"We have been overwhelmed with the incredible support of our school community in Bolton. It has been so heartening and uplifting to see so many children, their teachers and school staff wearing their elf hats with pride and having so much fun on their elf runs. A massive thank you also goes to the children’s families and friends whose magnificent donations have helped to pay for Christmas at the hospice – what a precious gift for the hospice to have received!”

Rebecca Tattersall, Deputy Head Teacher at Moorgate Primary, says:

"We really wanted to take part in this event as Bolton Hospice is very close to our hearts. We sadly lost a wonderful member of our Moorgate family in lockdown and she spent some time at Bolton Hospice. This Elf Run allowed us to raise money to say a big thank you for looking after Mrs Brown, who we sadly miss every day. I was astounded at the amount that we raised as a school and am so incredibly proud of all our children who took part and contributed the £3745.14 that we raised. It just shows that when the Moorgate family all come together we really can achieve amazing things."

Children aged from 4 months to 4 years took part at Mucky Munchkins Childcare in Over Hulton, raising £777.50 for the hospice. A representative shared:

“Thank you to all our children, staff, parents and their extended families for your kind and generous donations towards this worthy cause. Your donations will provide the very best palliative care that can stabilise a patients symptoms and manage pain, helping them to live well and create new memories with their loved ones at Christmas.”

The 30 schools that took part in the 2021 Elf Run were:

Devonshire Road, Egerton Primary, St Brendans, St James Daisy Hill CE, All Saints CE, SS Osmund & Andrew RC, St Maxentius, St Michaels CE, Queensbridge, Masefield, St Joseph RC, Clevelands Prep School, Ladybridge Primary, St Stephen & All Martyrs, Lever Edge, Beacon Primary School, Moorgate Primary School, Clarendon, Cherry Tree & Greenfold, Sharples Primary School, Essa Primary School, St Matthews CE Primary School, The Oaks, St Philip's CE Primary in Atherton, St. Thomas CE Primary School, St Andrews, St Simon & Judes Primary School, Bowness Primary School, Eagley Juniors, and Mucky Munchkins.

Thank you to the local schools, nursersies and families for supporting the Bolton Hospice Elf Run and for helping to share some Christmas cheer!