Gomer Junior School children dress as elves to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society

As well as dressing in festive elf costumes the children spent the day learning about the challenges of Alzheimer’s and the importance of a healthy brain. Pupils also discussed the wider impact of the disease on the sufferer’s family, including children.

Many of the children were able to speak from personal experience of older relatives suffering from the disease and the associated condition of dementia.

Madison McLaren, nine, said: ‘It was a really interesting day. We learnt how important each part of the brain is to help us do everything every day that we take for granted’,

Classmate Sofia Digby, eight, said she found it ‘difficult to talk about how this disease changed her grandfather’ who she ‘misses greatly’ but added ‘I’m really impressed with the amount of effort people have gone to to help raise money for other people with Alzheimer’s in such a fun way’.

The initiative was close to the heart of the school’s associate headteacher, Karen Digby, who coordinated the event after her own family's experience of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Mrs Digby said: ‘As people live longer and we have an aging population, it is important that we understand how we and others can be affected and supported, if we are unfortunately put in the situation where we need to manage the effect of this disease.’

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In total, Elf Day raised £477 which will help the charity in their work into researching how the onset of the disease can be delayed as well as providing support to family members.

Executive headteacher Georgina Mulhall said: ‘‘I am so proud of the monies raised by the community to support this important charity. Research is much needed in this area. The children had great fun on Elf Day and raised their awareness of the cruel disease that is Alzheimer's.’

The event will help raise awareness of an ageing UK population and is part of the school’s No Outsiders curriculum which educates pupils about respecting diversity and difference.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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