Lucy Leeming, from Make-A-Wish, attended an Act of Worship with staff and students at the academy and collected a cheque for £1,626.

Karen Morley, finance assistant at Saint John Houghton CVA who organised the event, told students: “Make-A-Wish provides magical experiences for very seriously ill children, young people of your age. The money that you raised will help give these children a very special memory.”

Mrs Morley also said that plans were already being made to hold the fun run again next year and it would be in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, following the death of staff member Mick Hackett earlier this year.

Lucy thanked the staff, students and community for their support.

She said: “Thankyou so much and I hope you enjoyed your amazing fund-raising event and thankyou to Mrs Morley for organising everything.”

A number of sponsors from the local business community supported the fun run by offering donations or goods.

They included Lobina Transport, Aquinas Foundation, Pam Saint-Gobain, The Office Way, Morley Hayes, Intabag Limited, KRM Building and Landscape Supplies, BJSupplies, Langley Mill Contract Flooring Ltd, UK Tool Hire Ltd, Trailer Service and Repair Ltd, Stuart Lee Sport and Leisure, Boots, The Manor Squash Club, A&S Enterprises Ltd, Hopwells, Derby County FC, Erewash Borough Council, Rayden Engineering Ltd, Spondon Trophies, Decathlon and Creed Catering.

Joan McCarthy, head teacher at Saint John Houghton, said: “Our fun run was an incredible community event and we would like to thank everyone who supported it. We hope that the money raised will help Make-A-Wish provide seriously ill children with some amazing memories.”