School children from across the North West have joined staff at the Endeavour Learning Trust in running a relay in preparation for staff running the London Marathon this weekend.
Five runners, including Trust staff, will be joining Sergio Aguiar in taking on the marathon in memory of his daughter, Alice, who tragically lost her life in the Southport attack last year.
The group is also running in memory of Bebe King.
Both children were pupils at Churchtown Primary School, and the team is raising funds for the school’s playground in their honour.
You can donate here:
Fundraiser by Churchtown Primary School : Churchtown Playground
The Churchtown Playground relay invited over 200 children to take part in a 47-mile journey across three days this week, connecting all nine of Endeavour’s schools across the North West, united by a powerful message of togetherness and hope.
A team of staff and supporters are running the London marathon to raise funds for the new Churchtown playground in memory of Alice and Bebe, an idea which was proposed by Alice’s parents, Sergio and Alex.
The space will serve as a joyful, healing place where children can do what children do best – play, explore and grow.
Other staff from across the Trust are running in the Blackpool Festival of Running, which includes the Blackpool Marathon.
The Churchtown Playground Relay started at Strike Lane Primary School in Freckleton on Tuesday, travelling school to school, before finishing at Churchtown Primary today – the day before Sergio, Churchtown Headteacher Jinnie Payne, and Endeavour Learning Trust’s Director of Primary Education, Gareth Caunce, head to London to run the marathon.
The relay itself was inspired by Ellie, a Year 10 pupil at Burscough Priory Academy, which is a member of the Endeavour Learning Trust family. She organised a cake sale to raise money and bring all the Endeavour Learning Trust schools together.
The relay baton, which has been engraved with the logos of the different schools, and carries messages of support from Endeavour pupils inside, will be taken to London and be carried between the Churchtown playground team in the Marathon.
Children and staff from across nine Endeavour schools took part, running or walking relay legs of up to 3.5 miles in teams.
At each school handover stop messages of support, unity, and hope from the children were collected to help inspire the runners.
When the relay arrived at Churchtown, children from the school welcomed the runners and cheered them on. Representatives from every school ran the final leg together around Churchtown’s field in a powerful symbol of togetherness.
The relay ended with a celebration event at Churchtown, with pupils and staff enjoying music, dancing, inspiring speeches and refreshments.
Churchtown Primary School Headteacher Mrs Payne said:
“As we make the final preparations for the London Marathon, our relay was an inspiring moment in our journey.
“The love and support from fellow staff, and our inspiring pupils and their families, who have responded to last year’s events with an outpouring of compassion will be powering us on towards the finish line later this week.”
David Clayton, CEO of the Endeavour Learning Trust, said:
“This relay has been a beautiful expression of unity, love and light from across our family of schools.
“What has taken place over these three days is more than a relay. It is a symbol. A message. A powerful act of love and unity. It shows the very best of who we are – not just as schools, but as one Endeavour family.
“The baton that has travelled from school to school over these past few days is so much more than a marker of a relay. It’s a symbol of unity. It represents the love between our communities, the connection between our schools, and the strength we find when we move forward together. It represents how we carry one another forward—with care, with pride, and with purpose.
“This baton carries more than miles—it carries memory, meaning, and momentum. And as it continues its journey, so too does the legacy we are all building, together.
“At Endeavour, we are more than just a group of schools, we are a family. And like any family, when it matters most, we pull together as one.
“I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who has taken part, and we’re all cheering Sergio, Jinnie, Gareth and the team on as they take those final steps in honour of Alice, Bebe and Churchtown. You carry all of us with you.”
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