JAMES BULGER’S mother, Denise Fergus, is to start a fundraising race to boost a new school being built in his name.

The campaign was launched last year to raise £1m to build a school for badly bullied children.

The Red Balloon learner centre, based in Liverpool, will be a sanctuary for youngsters too afraid to return to the classroom and named James Bulger House as a permanent memorial to the murdered toddler.

Now students and staff at Liverpool John Moores’ faculty of health are doing their bit to swell Red Balloon’s coffers by organising a fundraising walk across Crosby’s coastal path.

Readers are invited to join them for the event on Sunday, May 31, when it is hoped at least 100 people will turn out for the walk which takes in Crosby promenade and Hightown Dunes.

The walk, due to be started by James’s mum, Denise Fergus, will be approximately nine miles, but participants can choose to do a shorter version if they wish.

Kate Hawtin, who is part of the events team, said: “Red Balloon is aiming to get children back into education and the students related to that and felt it complements what we do at university.”