Burgess Hill school raises funds for St Peter and St James Hospice

Participants battled the frosty conditions on Wednesday, December 9 as they skipped, danced, jogged and walked their way around the route.

St Peter and St James Hospice costs £8,000 a day to run, £19 pays for 1 hour of care and £23 covers a nurse to visit someone in their home.

The £2,272 raised so far will cover more than 100 hours of care or almost 100 nurse visits.

Liz Laybourn, headteacher, said: “Community is an important word at Burgess Hill Girls. The Christmas period offers lots of opportunities to get out and do our bit and I am immensely proud of the pupils’ efforts this year.”

The elf run is one of many activities run by Burgess Hill Girls to support the community.

Prep school pupils have also sent Christmas cards to residents in local care homes, and together with pupils in years 7 and 8, brought in six items each for the Burgess Hill Community Food Bank.

Students in year 9 put together care packages for Sussex Oak Leaf to help young people with mental health issues, and students in the senior school organised a woolly hat day, raising more than £1,000 for Chailey Heritage Foundation.