Lancaster University’s Pre-School staff, children and parents recently completed a sponsored Elf Walk for St John’s Hospice, raising £813 for the local charity thanks to the generosity of parents and staff.

The Elf Walk was held as part of the St John’s Hospice Elf Run, an annual fundraising event held every festive season that encourages schools, nurseries and childcare providers to take part in a sponsored run, jog, or walk to help raise money for patient care.

Adele Stewart, Pre-School Centre Manager, said: “We are delighted to have raised such a fantastic amount of money for St John’s Hospice. I would like to thank our staff and parents for their generous donations, and the children for taking part with such enthusiasm. It was a wonderful activity and a great way for us all to get into the festive spirit while raising funds for local hospice services.”

Children from Pre-Schools 1, 2 and 3 dressed up as elves and took part in a fun campus walk beginning with a warm-up activity led by colleagues from the Sports Centre.

Along the way, they visited a variety of activity stations, including a special stop at the University's Library to enjoy a Christmas story. The walk finished with a final elf march to The Marketplace, where the children enjoyed a festive lunch with their parents.

Children from the Crèche and Nursery rooms took part in a range of activities within the Pre-School Centre grounds. They collected stamps as they completed each activity station before finishing the day with a special lunch with their parents.

Pre-School staff added to the festive spirit by dressing up as elves and reindeer, helping to create a magical and memorable experience for the children.

76 schools, nurseries and childcare providers took part in the 2025 Elf Run and together have raised £56,303.39 for St John’s Hospice.