20 Jan 2025 Community

Lepton Children Dash for Charity in Festive Reindeer Run

The children at Lepton C of E Primary Academy put on their antlers and took part in a heart warming Reindeer Run to support The Kirkwood, a local charity that helps some of the most vulnerable people in the community. With plenty of dashing, dancing, and prancing, the young "Reindeer Recruits" raised vital funds to ensure The Kirkwood could continue its important work.

Every penny raised from the festive event contributed to providing essential resources, such as beds and medicine, to those in need. The enthusiasm and generosity of the school community were a testament to the power of collective effort.

Eight year old Ronan Reynolds, a pupil at Lepton C of E Primary Academy, shared his excitement about taking part in the annual event and why it meant so much to him.

"I had done the Reindeer Run about three times," said Ronan. "I liked doing the Reindeer Run every year with my friends. This time, my mum came and joined in with the games, which all my friends thought was really cool because my mum worked at The Kirkwood."

Describing the day’s activities, Ronan explained: "We ran laps around the playground and then went into the hall and played games in groups. We had pin the nose on the reindeer, bean bag throw, throwing snowballs to knock down cans, limbo, and ring toss onto reindeer antlers."

Ronan proudly shared how much he had raised: "I think I raised about £100 in total for the Reindeer Run, but I knew my school had raised lots together."

Talking about his connection to The Kirkwood, Ronan added: "My mum worked at The Kirkwood, in the lottery department. The Kirkwood was important because they helped people who were poorly. We liked to help raise money for The Kirkwood to help them buy the things they needed like beds and medicine to help people in need."

Ronan’s mum, Stacey, joined in on the fun and shared her pride in her son and the event.

"I was very proud of Ronan. He loved to join in any activity when it came to fundraising," Stacey said.

She continued: "The Reindeer Run was great. I went along to the Reindeer Run at Lepton C of E Primary Academy with Julia in December and joined in. They ran laps of the playground, followed by fun but competitive games in the hall. The kids loved that they could fundraise while having fun."

The Kirkwood’s work touches many lives in the community, and events like the Reindeer Run ensured they could continue to make a difference. Lepton C of E Primary Academy’s commitment to supporting this cause was inspiring, proving that even the smallest antlers could make a big impact.

Thank you to all the young Reindeer Recruits, parents, and staff who supported this wonderful initiative!