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SCHOOL children from across the North West joined staff at the Endeavour Learning Trust in running a relay in preparation for staff running the 2025 London Marathon.

5 runners, including:- Trust staff, will be joining Sergio Aguiar in taking on the marathon in memory of his daughter, Alice, who tragically lost her life in the Southport attack last year. The group is also running in memory of Bebe. Both children were pupils, at Churchtown Primary School, and the team is raising funds for the School's playground in their honour.

The Churchtown Playground relay invited over 200 children to take part in a 47 mile journey across 3 days this week, connecting all nine of Endeavour's Schools across the North West, united by a powerful message of togetherness and hope.

A team of staff and supporters are running the London marathon to raise funds for the new Churchtown playground in memory of Alice and Bebe, an idea which was proposed by Alice’s parents, Sergio and Alex. The space will serve as a joyful, healing place where children can do what children do best; play, explore and grow.

Other staff from across the Trust are running in the Blackpool Festival of Running, which include the Blackpool Marathon.

The Churchtown Playground Relay started at:- Strike Lane Primary School in Freckleton on:- Tuesday, 22 April 2025, travelling School to School, before finishing, at Churchtown Primary; on Thursday, 24 April 2025; the day before:- Sergio, Churchtown Headteacher Jinnie Payne, and Endeavour Learning Trust’s Director of Primary Education, Gareth Caunce, head off to London to run the Marathon.

The relay itself was inspired by Ellie, a Year 10 pupil at Burscough Priory Academy, which is a member of the Endeavour Learning Trust family. She organised a cake sale to raise money and bring all the Endeavour Learning Trust Schools together.

The relay baton, which has been engraved with the logos of the different Schools, and carries messages of support from Endeavour pupils inside, will be taken to London and be carried between the Churchtown Playground team in the Marathon.

Children and staff from across 9 Endeavour Schools took part, running or walking relay legs of up to 3.5 miles in teams.

At each School handover stop messages of support, unity, and hope from the children were collected to help inspire the runners.

When the relay arrived at Churchtown, children from the School welcomed the runners and cheered them on. Representatives from every School ran the final leg together around Churchtown's field in a powerful symbol of togetherness.

The relay ended with a celebration event at:- Churchtown, with pupils and staff enjoying:- music, dancing, inspiring speeches and refreshments.

Mrs Payne said:- "As we make the final preparations for the London Marathon, our relay was an inspiring moment in our journey.  The love and support from fellow staff, and our inspiring pupils and their families, who have responded to last year's events with an outpouring of compassion will be powering us on towards the finish line later this week."

David Clayton, CEO of the Endeavour Learning Trust, commented:- "This relay has been a beautiful expression of unity, love and light from across our family of Schools. What has taken place over these 3 days is more than a relay. It is a symbol. A message. A powerful act of love and unity. It shows the very best of who we are; not just as Schools, but as one Endeavour family. The baton that has travelled from School to School over these past few days is so much more than a marker of a relay. It's a symbol of unity. It represents the love between our communities, the connection between our Schools, and the strength we find when we move forward together. It represents how we carry 1 another forward; with care, with pride, and with purpose. This baton carries more than miles; it carries memory, meaning, and momentum. And as it continues its journey, so too does the legacy we are all building, together. At Endeavour, we are more than just a group of Schools, we are a family. And like any family, when it matters most, we pull together as 1. I couldn't be prouder of everyone who has taken part, and we're all cheering Sergio, Jinnie, Gareth and the team on as they take those final steps in honour of Alice, Bebe and Churchtown. You carry all of us with you."

LIVERPOOL'S art fans will have more time to enjoy this summer's:- 'Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet' with the immersive experiences after it was announced that they are extending their run.

The unmiscible multimedia attractions were due to visit the:- Exhibition Centre Liverpool, from:- Tuesday, 15 July to Sunday, 3 August 2025.

But since tickets went on sale in February, demand has been so great it has now been decided to extend the 2025 run until:- Friday, 15 August 2025, giving visitors an additional 2 weeks to catch both stunning immersive shows. Tickets for the extended dates are on sale now!

'Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet' will be staged on different days throughout what is now a 4½ week stay, at the landmark waterfront venue.

Produced by Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group:- 'Beyond Van Gogh - The Immersive Experience' brings together more than 300 of the Post Impressionist icon's paintings blended with cutting edge technology and a specially curated musical soundtrack to tell the story of 1 of history's most influential artists, with people able to wander through iconic works; including:- The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Terrace of a Café at Night; as they come alive around them.

Meanwhile Beyond Monet - The Immersive Experience has been seen by thousands of people at venues across North America, and now it is coming to the UK, following in Beyond Van Gogh's footsteps by being premiered in Liverpool.

In the immersive impressionist extravaganza, cutting edge technology breathes new life into more than 400 of the legendary French painter's artworks, taking visitors on a spectacular and unforgettable audio-visual journey through his captivating and colourful world.

Beyond Monet brings together some of the artist's most famous canvases; including:- Poppies, Impression: Sunrise and his exquisite Water Lilies series; with lesser known works which all swirl around the space, offering a fresh and exciting new look at much loved masterpieces and a deeper connection with Monet, his subjects and his innovative technique.

Taking inspiration from Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, the designated home of Monet's works, visitors can freely roam the Infinity Room where they are transported inside the paintings themselves to the accompaniment of a moving original score.

There are a range of ticket options including:- VIP Experience tickets, and new for 2025, special family tickets, along with:- 'parent and child' tickets which offer great savings on individual prices.

And a programme of complementary activities has already been announced which will include:- Yoga, Pilates, mediation and painting sessions which will all take place within the immersive experiences.

Anna Parry, UK Business Development at Annerin Productions, said:- "When we premiered Beyond Van Gogh in Liverpool last summer we were overwhelmed with the amazing response from visitors. And it seems city art lovers are just as excited for the return of Van Gogh and the 1st visit of Beyond Monet. So, I’m absolutely delighted we’re able to extend the run of both immersive experiences for an additional 2 weeks. I also want to thank Exhibition Centre Liverpool for its continued enthusiasm and support. We forged a great working relationship with the team there in 2024 and since then the partnership has just got stronger and stronger. They’re brilliant at what they do, and I know this summer is going to be another memorable visit to the beautiful Mersey waterfront."

The Colm Graham, Head of Partnerships, Hospitality and Exhibition Sales at Exhibition Centre Liverpool added:- "Even before opening, the excitement and demand for Beyond Monet and Beyond Van Gogh have exceeded all expectations, We're thrilled the exhibition will be extended to run for an additional two weeks, giving even more people the chance to experience this breathtaking celebration of Van Gogh and Monet’s work. It’s a testament to the appetite for world class cultural experiences here in Liverpool. Working once again with the incredibly talented team at Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group has been a real pleasure; their creativity and commitment to immersive storytelling is 2nd to none, and we can't wait to welcome visitors through our doors to experience it."

For tickets and more information, please visit:- ExhibitionCentreLiverpool.Com.