Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity is holding its annual 'Merry Miles' festive fun run event for the fourth year running as it pushes to hit a £40,000 Children's Emergency Care Appeal target by Christmas.

The event, sponsored by Crewe security firm Alpha Omega, had to be held virtually last year due to the pandemic, but organisers are delighted to be able to return to Queen's Park, Crewe, once again this year.

MCH Charity Manager Emma Robertson said: "The current total of our appeal stands at just over £30,000 so we're determined that our festive activities will help us to reach our £40,000 target. Last year we had to make the difficult decision to 'go virtual' with Merry Miles, which worked really well, but we missed the buzz and excitement of a live event. This year will be bigger and better than ever and we're offering both the option to join us in the park, or to do it virtually.

"It's such a great family event at the end of November which really helps to get everyone in the mood for Christmas. Of course, we couldn't do any of this without our friends and sponsors from Alpha Omega Securities. Ken and his team have been amazing as always, this will be the third year that we've had them on board which enables us to deliver a brilliant event for our supporters and the community."

Ken Lawton, Managing Director of Alpha Omega, said, "I am delighted that Alpha Omega is supporting the Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity again this year by sponsoring the 2021 Merry Miles Event. This festive one-mile run, walk or toddle is a great way for people to get involved and raise money for an extremely good cause.

"The money raised all goes to the hospital to help them to provide care services, equipment and facilities that make people's experience at the hospital the most positive that it can be."

Registration to the event costs £10 for adults and £5 for children over 11 (under 11s free) and all money raised will go towards the Children's Emergency Care Appeal which aims to raise £40,000 for the new department.

The money raised will be used to purchase high-tech interactive floor projectors for the waiting rooms to help make the space more children friendly and less intimidating and wall projectors for the assessment rooms which will help to calm and distract children while they are being examined and treated.

The appeal will also fund a Resuscitaire, a state-of-the-art piece of equipment which is used by the medical team when caring for babies up to the age of three months in an emergency situation.

Ceri Donovan, Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practitioner, said, "The Resuscitaire is a multi-functional piece of equipment which is primarily used to help us when new-born babies need resuscitation. It can also be used for older babies who present in cardiac arrest and with those who are unwell in other ways.

"Although we are very capable of looking after tiny babies in an emergency, this piece of equipment will be hugely beneficial and will provide our tiny patients with a much better experience whilst in our care."

To find out more about the event or how to fundraise for the charity call Carole Salmon, Community Fundraiser, on 01270 273248 or 07467 687998.