A special advent appeal at Hereford Cathedral Junior School inspired the very generous pupils to donate unwanted shoes but also led Year 6 pupil Madeleine Teale to take on a sponsored run.

Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils have donated to nine different charities in total, that will help children, refugees, homeless and animal rescue charities this Christmas. Each of the nine windows overlooking the junior school playground will be filled with different charity donations.

UNICEF’s Shoe-Share appeal is one of nine charities that the pupils will help. The shoes will be brought to Clark’s who will sell them and donate the money to UNICEF. Clark’s have helped children in 190 countries this way.

Madeleine said: “It made me think of all the people who will have no home to go to at Christmas. I felt guilty knowing that I would have presents and a family to celebrate with, when so many homeless people don’t.

“So, I decided to do a run and ask for sponsorship to raise money for the Hereford Larder so that the homeless in our city will have food at least this winter.

“On Sunday, November 26th, I ran 5km with my brother and sister. So far I have raised £185, which is amazing. After the run I felt so much better knowing that soon the money I have raised will go towards helping some of Hereford’s homeless.”

Headmaster Chris Wright has been hard at work all year helping pupils to understand the importance of developing an appreciation for the real meaning of kindness. He told children: “Being kind is not just for a house point or for a merit. Kindness makes you feel good, tapping into something inside us that says, ‘this is who I am’.”

When pupils spoke about their chosen charities, Lisabel Grahame said: “I chose UNICEF because I feel that every child should have a chance of going to school. When you give in your old or new pair of shoes, UNICEF exchanges them for money to buy a child an education and hot meals.”