A pancakes and pyjama party featuring cartoon characters as guests has raised $1,000 for a schools breakfast programme.

The event was put on by business owners Francesca Cacace, Tiffany Sousa and Kelly Simons to support the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

More than 300 people joined the fun at Saltus Grammar School last month, when the party included a pancake station, cereal bar and popcorn stalls.

Guests were entertained with games, a fun castle and characters from animated films such as Monsters, Inc. and the Minions from the Despicable Me series.

Ms Cacace, part-owner of Hamilton children’s clothing store Blukids, teamed up with Ms Sousa and Ms Simons of Party Animals to host the fundraiser.

She said: “I wanted to do an event for the children that would also bring together strong brands and raise money for charity.

“By having a breakfast party we could recognise what the coalition is doing with their breakfast programme.

“So much happens on a weekend, we thought we would try something different — breakfast with your favourite characters, what’s better than that?

“Everyone that came loved it. From the feedback, I think we will definitely make it annual.”

Ms Cacace said the event also gave the businesses an opportunity to showcase some of what they offer — pyjamas in the case of Blukids and the characters and games that were supplied by Party Animals — and she thanked other firms who supported the cause through the donation of time, services and breakfast supplies.

The coalition’s Breakfast For Every Child programme has operated for 12 years and is offered to pupils in 13 primary schools and middle schools.

Denae Burchall, the programme co-ordinator, said: “We find children who eat breakfast have better concentration, are less bored and have less anxiety.

“It also kick-starts their metabolism and lowers the risk of them indulging in higher-calorie foods later in the day.

“Unfortunately, in Bermuda we have some children who may go to bed without dinner, so knowing that they’re coming to school the next day and have something to eat is very important.

“Even if they’re running late, they can grab a granola bar. There’s always something there for them.”

Ms Burchall said the scheme served more than 80,000 breakfasts to about 700 schoolchildren in 2018.

She added: “The programme is funded from individual and corporate donations so when companies like Blukids and Party Animals host events like this, we greatly appreciate the partnership to not only make a donation but also to raise awareness of the importance of breakfast.

“Without such organisations the programme could not exist.”