Dozens of Southport students completed the Mini Marathon in London on Saturday to raise money awareness for the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign.
The children all attend schools part of Southport Learning Trust.
Today it’s their teachers’ turn, with five of them getting ready to run the 2025 London Marathon.
#kNOwKnifeCrime campaign campaigner Laura Hughes said:
“What an incredible day at the Mini London Marathon.
“On Saturday, 60 amazing children from Southport Learning Trust represented both their schools and the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign – not just to raise awareness, but to raise vital funds to help deliver Mini Medics first aid training sessions across the Trust’s schools.
“This is the third year that the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign has partnered with Southport Learning Trust, and every year the bond grows stronger, with the impact of the fundraising efforts becoming even greater.
“Proud is an understatement. Every single child who took part today has made their schools, the Trust, and our campaign incredibly proud. We are truly honoured to have them as part of our team!
“Thank you for making such a difference.
“Now, the baton is being passed to the five amazing teachers who are taking part in the London Marathon on Sunday.
“What an incredible week of fundraising, teamwork, and collaboration!”
The teaching staff running the London Marathon are:
- Mrs Greaves, Executive Headteacher of Kew Woods Primary School and Director of Primary Southport Learning Trust
- Mrs Braithwaite, Headteacher Bedford Primary School
- Mr Kay, Headteacher Maghull High School
- Mrs Jackson-Stokes PE teacher Greenbank High School
- Mrs Robinson Quality of Education Lead Southport Learning Trust and former Headteacher Greenbank High School
You can sponsor the fundraisers here through Cash For Kids: https://www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk/campaign/london-marathon-2025/fundraisers/southport-learning-trust-knowknifecrime-team/
In the lead-up to the London Marathon, Laura Hughes and the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaigners have once again teamed up with schools in Southport Learning Trust for the third year running for an action-packed week of fundraising and sending positive messages.
All funds raised go straight to providing life-saving bleed control kits and first aid training, ensuring the safety of young people across our region.
Last week, children ran in a relay between Bootle and Southport to raise money and awareness.
It has involved runners from nine schools covering 30 miles.
The #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign was founded by Crosby mum Laura Hughes after the tragic murder of her brother, Colin McGinty.
Laura has worked with many thousands of pupils at schools in Sefton and across the Liverpool City Region after her brother, Colin McGinty, was fatally stabbed to death after a night out with friends in Bootle in 2001 in a case of mistaken identity.
In 2024 Laura was honoured for her work as a Finalist in the Main Grand Pride Of Sefton Award at The Grand in Southport.
She has worked tirelessly to promote safety among children and positively educate them about the dangers of knife crime and give them the tools to be confident and aware in our community.
Laura has also been pushing for public buildings to have bleed control kits on hand to the public to improve the chances of surviving a tragic incident.
She has continued to raise funds so that more bleed control kits are provided in public places which, like defibrillators, can be accessed in an emergency to save a life. They contain first aid equipment that will stop a person bleeding too much and give more time for an ambulance to arrive and save a life.
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