BREAKING: A festive spirit is alive in the West Midlands as a Christmas card competition captivates children and celebrates creativity. Seven-year-old Marnie Bernard from The Oratory Roman Catholic Primary School in Birmingham has emerged as the winner, crafting a heartwarming design that will grace next year’s official card for the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) West Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (WM RRDN).
Marnie’s design, featuring gloved hands cradling a heart-shaped snowball, outshone a total of 177 entries from children aged 4 to 11 across the region. She narrowly edged out her schoolmate, Deborah Chibueze, aged 9, who claimed the second spot, while Alicja Jablonska, 8, from St Matthews CE Primary School in Telford, took third place.
The competition, organized by Amy Stringer, Research Facilitator at WM RRDN, aims to foster connections between local schools and the organization. “It was incredibly difficult to select a winner as we had such a range of wonderful entries,” Stringer stated. The winning card will be distributed to nearly 200 recipients, including 130 schools and numerous researchers and stakeholders.
Marnie received a £20 voucher for her efforts, while her school was awarded a £100 voucher. Both Deborah and Alicja were also recognized with £10 vouchers each. Marnie’s mother, Nicola Restall, expressed her pride, stating, “Winning will also help with her confidence,” highlighting the personal impact of this achievement.
The excitement doesn’t stop here. Head of School Shannon Ryan expressed her joy at the results, praising the artistic talents emerging from The Oratory. “We are keen to ensure each child achieves their potential, and it is clear that we could have future artists or designers in our school right now,” she said.
The WM RRDN team is already planning for future competitions, aiming to enhance community engagement and celebrate local talent. “We are looking forward to the competitions we are planning for 2026,” Stringer added.
This annual contest not only highlights the creativity of young minds but also strengthens the bond between educational institutions and health research organizations. With such enthusiasm and talent on display, the West Midlands can look forward to even more inspiring entries in the years to come.
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