A WIRRAL school last night unveiled ambitious plans to raise £3.75m for Alder Hey’s Imagine Appeal.

Calday Grange Grammar School, in West Kirby, aims to use a 1,000-mile sponsored relay run from Land’s End to John O’Groats as one of the key fund- raising events – but aims to draw in the wider community and attract corporate sponsorship.

The school chose the Imagine Appeal after one of its students, Matthew Cullen, was diagnosed with leukaemia and began receiving treatment at the Liverpool hospital.

The idea for the fundraising – known as LeJog – was dreamed up by PE teacher David Wilkes. Last night, deputy head Tim Sinnott told a meeting at the school: "PE teacher David Wilkes and a couple of friends were devastated by the news of the illness of Matthew Cullen, one of our Calday boys, and wanted to do something to hel.

"In a far off muddy field a year ago, an idea was hatched – run the whole length of the country, for charity from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.

"As 2011 is the 375th birthday of the school, someone shouted, we could do it then – and have loads of fundraising events." The massive undertaking will involve pairs of runners covering over 500 stages, of approximately two miles each, to complete the route of more than 1,000 miles.

Matthew’s father, David Cullen, said Matthew hopes to be well enough to join the 400 pupils, plus Old Caldenians, parents, staff, and celebrities on the run. He said: "David Wilkes has always involved our family in his organising, particularly in deciding how the money should be used. He said: "It’s very touching to think that the whole school is prepared to do something, not just for Matthew, but all children with the same illness.

"Matthew is determined that funds should be used for research into childhood cancer so the Imagine Appeal at Alder Hey have been involved from the start.

"The Imagine Appeal will direct Lejog funds towards the Alder Hey Cancer Research Fund. He is absolutely determined to make a complete recovery whilst enjoying as normal a life as possible."