CREWE cereal firm Mornflake is backing a hospice's Christmas fundraising campaign.

St. Luke's Hospice is calling on schools to sign up for its Rudolph Run and for a second year, Mornflake will provide hearty porridge breakfasts to more than 3,000 Cheshire school children taking part.

Mornflake will also make a donation towards much-needed hospice services.

Already more than 17 schools across the county have pledged to participate in the Rudolph 2020 campaign which promotes health and fitness, inviting pupils to don red noses and reindeer antlers to run around school playgrounds in their class bubbles sponsored by friends and families.

Festive postcards have been sent to schools with the message "We've all had to be apart, now let's do something together".

The Winsford-based hospice has £8,000 daily running costs, but has lost income from milestone events such as the Midnight Walk, Bubble Rush and Woof Mudder this year as well as a wide range of community-based events such as sponsored walks, bingo nights and coffee mornings.

Mornflake Managing Director John Lea said: "We are delighted to offer our support to this wonderful campaign which promotes health, fitness and community spirit, while raising money for such an important cause.

"St. Luke's Hospice relies so heavily on the generosity of our community but, like so many other charities, the pandemic has hit hard. As a long-standing Cheshire company, we continue to be touched by the support it offers local people and endeavour to help as much as we can.

"The campaign also carries another important message – that Christmas is about giving so we encourage as many schools as possible to get behind the Rudolph Run 2020."

Fundraising and donations amounts to 85 per cdent of the money needed to keep the hospice going. The Rudolph campaign has raised some £40,000 in previous years.

More than 6,000 children across 40 schools took part last year. Primary schools signed up so far include St Michael's and Edleston in Crewe, as well as schools in Nantwich, Winsford and Northwich.

St. Luke's Community Partnerships Manager, Angela Slack, said: "We are absolutely delighted that schools are supporting our Rudolph Run again this year, with children able to join in the fun in their class or year group bubbles.

"It's such great event which encourages children to get out in the fresh air, get fit and have lots of festive fun – while at the same time raising vital funds for the hospice.

"This year more than ever, we are so grateful to Mornflake and our wonderful school community for their continued support."

To host a Rudolph Run contact the St. Luke's Community Team on 01606 555697 or [email protected] for an information pack.