A HOSPITAL charity raised over £6,000 from its festive activities, which included a popular fun run which was turned into an online event.

The annual Merry Miles fun run raised £5,000 for Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity, part of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Crewe's Leighton Hospital.

The run normally takes place at Queen's Park in Crewe where participants gather together to run, walk or toddle a mile. However, the restrictions on the number of people allowed to meet in outdoor spaces meant the charity moved the event online.

Fundraisers were invited to register and to complete their mile, or miles, over a two-week period.

More than 250 miles were covered by 121 people during the event, which was sponsored again by Crewe based Alpha Omega Securities.

The Merry Miles virtual event was part of wider festive fundraiser which included a festive raffle, Wear It Festive Day, and an online virtual Tree of Lights which gave people the opportunity to donate to the charity and leave a message for a loved one.

Emma Robertson, MCH Charity Manager, said: "As a team Christmas is our most favourite time of year for fundraising, so we were determined not to let the pandemic stop us. With some tweaking and creativity, we managed to do most of the events we normally do.

"We were absolutely delighted with the response we had from our local communities and even though we couldn't meet in person we felt really engaged with our supporters."

Cash raised through the Merry Miles event goes directly to the 'Lost Little Ones' baby bereavement suite appeal, which is drawing close to a £100,000 target.

Funds will go to creating a dedicated suite and attached outside space on the labour ward at Leighton Hospital for people experiencing baby loss.

The suite will allow parents to stay together for a few hours or days with their baby in a comfortable, non-clinical environment to spend quiet time together away from the ward.

The appeal was almost three quarters of the way to its target when Covid-19 struck when it was paused while the Charity team supported the hospital trust to develop projects which have supported the health and wellbeing of staff.

Ken Lawton, Managing Director of Alpha Omega Securities, said: "I am thrilled that we have managed to raise a significant sum of money for the Lost Little Ones appeal."