Liverpool primary school staff set out on 100K for May Challenge in aid of Zoe’s Place

Staff at a Liverpool primary school have given themselves some homework, with a 100K for May Challenge.

Around 20 staff members at Mab Lane Primary have taken on the task and chosen to run or walk the distance – just over 62 miles – in aid of well-known city children’s hospice Zoe’s Place.

It includes the head teacher Laura Tracey, along with the deputy head and assistant head teachers, the admin team, teaching assistants, and some of the nursery staff.

Office administrator Emily Dunning says: “The school has enjoyed recent fundraising events for Zoe’s Place and we can’t wait to smash our target and raise money for a great cause.”

Mab Lane Primary near Stockbridge Village has made it its mission to raise money for Zoe’s Place since 2021 and held some great events, says Emily: “The school council organised delicious cake sales and created chocolate extravaganzas for Easter – and now it’s the staff’s turn!”

She says the focus on bringing more exercise and physical activity into the Mab Lane team’s working week started with a couple of staff doing keep fit on a Friday after school.

And she adds: “This has now spread to individuals looking for fun challenges that the staff can take part in. This challenge was flexible and allowed those who didn’t want to run to still participate and build up those kilometres by walking.

“May’s a month where the weather should be turning warmer (we have not seen much sun yet) and the challenge has really encouraged Mab Lane staff and their families to get outside, either running or walking, and really enjoy the activity.

“The families of the staff members should receive a small thank you for supporting us along the way – and some even putting on their trainers and being right by our sides.”

Mab Lane Primary School

Zoe’s place is a hospice which specialises in early years care, looking after and supporting babies and young children with life-limiting, life-threatening or complex conditions.

Nuse-led teams tailor care to children and their families, with the aim of helping them to live life to its fullest.

The six-bed hospice has a state-of-the-art sensory room, soft play area, hydrotherapy pool, outdoor play area and garden, as well as a specialist bereavement suite where families can stay overnight.

It’s been in Yew Tree Lane, West Derby, since it was founded in 1995. But the end of its current lease has led to the hospice setting out to raise £3.5m to create a new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built home.

Emily says: “Zoë’s Place will have touched everyone, whether they know a child who’s been supported by the amazing team there or not.

“Our empathy and pure amazement at the strength that the parents and carers have to care for the children with complex needs has been a strong motivation to everyone to carry on and keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

She goes on: “Our target was £200, and we have already reached this.” It’s tipped £450+!

“So our new target is to raise as much as we can for Zoë’s Place, in particular for the future move to a purpose-built specialist building which will bring support and comfort for many more families in the future.”