Fun and 'Games' at the St Mary's annual charity fun run

Students and teachers pulled out their most extravagant fancy dress costumes on Friday 21 October to raise vital funds for local, national and international charities in the school’s annual fun run.

The traditional fun run began at 1:30pm at Lammas Land, Newnham, with both Junior and Senior Schools taking part. Students and staff created an array of imaginatively designed costumes to fit this year’s chosen theme: ‘video games’ – with participants given the opportunity to transform into individuals or groups from all the modern and retro classics. Scope for creativity was high with runners able to draw inspiration from so many well-loved computer characters. From Pacman and Space Invaders to Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog – the event was an exuberant affair which saw these characters come to life!

Every year, St Mary’s School raises a substantial amount of funds from its fun run. In 2021 the school generated a record-breaking £14,970 for charities including Cambridge Women's Aid, Young Minds and Alzheimer's Research UK. This year the school is raising funds for the following local, national and international causes:

- EACH (East Anglia Children's Hospices)

- The building of a new Mary Ward secondary school in Mbizo, by the CJ Community in Zimbabwe

- Emmaus Cambridge – a local homelessness charity

- Rowan - a local arts centre and forest school for adults with learning disabilities

- Educaid - an educational network of free schools in Sierra Leone focused on teacher training, gender equality work and improving community resilience

- Meseret for Women – a charity to help single mothers in Ethiopia

- Breast Cancer Now (Wear Pink Morning).

Charlotte Avery, Headmistress at St Mary’s School, said:

“Our annual fun run is always a highly anticipated event in the school calendar. It is steeped in St Mary’s history and provides a colourful way to end the first half of the autumn term. This year was no exception with our video game-themed costumes all coming to life at the start line. It really was a sight to behold. As always, we hope to have raised lots of money for worthwhile causes. With the cost of living crisis, it continues to be a tough time for the third sector and we are very grateful for the support and generosity that both our students and their parents give us in the organisation of this fundraising event.”

As in previous years, St Mary’s hosted a 'Pink Morning' ahead of the fun run. Students all came into school wearing pink items for the national ‘Wear It Pink’ campaign. All monies raised from this morning will go towards Breast Cancer Now.

Find out more about learning to be responsible citizens at St Mary's