GUINNESS World Record holder Rob Pope - who ran the Forrest Gump route across America five times - visited De La Salle School last week to run with 12-year-old George Mathias.

Pride of Britain winner George, from Eccleston, who has raised more than £700,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to thank them for saving his little brother James’s life - has run with a host of top celebrities to reach that number - but this time it was George and his entire year group who got to run with Rob.

Rob flew over from America to host an inspiring assembly in the school before he joined George and all of year 7 to run across the school grounds.

George’s dad Richard Mathias, 46, said: “We ran with Rob in January just before he completed his route of the US, but we kept in touch.

“When De La Salle decided to do a run with George we got back in touch with him and were thrilled when he came over to host the assembly. I think George found it really daunting but it was great fun and all the pupils got sponsored so it raised £1,500 in total.

“We are really proud of George for carrying on with this, he really is inspiring others and the money we have raised for the hospital is helping so many people so we are really thrilled.”

On Twitter Rob said: “Amazing day at @DLS_StHelens with @RunWithGeorgeUK so very inspiring to see schools doing it right. Wonderful pupils and staff.

George initially planned to run a mile for each month he had had his brother James, now seven, but after reaching that milestone decided to run a marathon for every year he’s had James - which makes 208 miles.

Well known names he has run with include Saints captain Jon Wilkin, Liverpool legends Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and presenters Peter Andre and Susannah Ried.

Here is where that money is gone:

  • Four heated care cots for premature babies – £25,000 each
  • One sial endoscope which allows surgeons to treat children with throat diseases without surgery - £20,000
  • Visual technology which distracts children having MRI scans, meaning they avoid general anaesthetic - £22,000
  • Groundbreaking epilepsy equipment allowing for a cure to many forms of childhood epilepsy - £94,000
  • A cone beam scanner which cuts down on radiation for child patients by 90 per cent - £120,000
  • A robotic microscope to assist surgeons in removing brain tumours in children - £450,000. 

Totalling - £756,000