Our charity hosted the third annual Reindeer Run in the run-up to Christmas with 15 local schools taking part.

The event invites schoolchildren to take part in a sponsored run around the playground, wearing festive reindeer antlers which they make themselves.

All funds raised go towards ensuring every patient at our hospitals gets a present over the festive period.

Among schools taking part was St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Dagenham. Children completed their run on Monday (16 December) and raised an impressive £1,784. Earlier this month children at Long Ridings Primary School in Brentwood did theirs, and raised £826.

Marina Sherriff, from our charity, said: “We were overwhelmed by the amazing support we got from our local schools this year, and have been impressed at the amounts of money they’ve raised.

“While we’re very grateful to all the mums and dads, extended family members and friends who sponsored them, we’re especially proud of all the children who worked so hard to raise so much money to make Christmas a little bit better for those in hospital over the festive period.”

Other schools which took part were: Suttons Primary School, Hornchurch, John Perry Primary School, Dagenham, The Mawney Foundation School, Romford, Whybridge Infant and Junior Schools, Rainham, William Ford Junior School, Dagenham, Crowlands Primary School, Romford, Scargill Infant School, Rainham, Parkland Junior School, Romford, Dame Tipping Primary School, Romford, Crownfield Junior School, Romford, Gordon Primary School, Ilford, and Cleveland Junior School, Ilford.

Pictured are children and parents from Long Ridings Primary School