Pupils at St Mary's College have been stepping out for charity on their annual sponsored walk.

All the students and many members of staff took part in the 12-kilometre Edmund Rice Walk, a ‘desert trek' along the Sefton Coastal Path which was blessed with good weather this year.

Although St Mary's is now run as an independent trust it was set up by the Christian Brothers, and the school remains committed to supporting the spiritual, educational and charitable principles of Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers movement.

As a result, the sponsor money raised from the walk will help five good causes at home and abroad.

On Merseyside the charities to benefit will be Wirral's Claire House Children's Hospice, sgjpice (St sgjeph's Hospice Association) in Thornton and the Seel Street Mission for the homeless in Liverpool city centre.

Donations will also be made to the Christian Brothers West Africa Mission and to Brother Chincotta's work with Aids sufferers in Namibia.

St Mary's Principal, Michael Kennedy, said: "The Edmund Rice Walk is an important event in our calendar and I am delighted that once again it received the enthusiastic support of everyone here at the college.  It's a great opportunity for staff and students to spend the day together in the open air and to raise money for some very good causes at the same time."

Head start - Principal Michael Kennedy and Helen Carlson of Claire House Children's Hospice are pictured with some of the St Mary's pupils who took part in the walk.

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