Our school has ‘worked out’ how to make more than £2,300 for a deserving cause.  We recently took part in The Big Work Out  – a fund-raising fitness challenge, organised by the NSPCC / ChildLine.  The whole school took part in the day of activities, which ranged from an indoor assault course to improving ball skills. Encouraged by family and friends who sponsored them, the combined efforts of all the pupils just topped £2,300.  The children were given an insight into the work of the charities and received commemorative badges.   Gilly Hartley, schools fund-raising organiser for the NSPCC / ChildLine in Staffordshire, praised their terrific achievement.   She said: “They have really excelled themselves.”  Although it is free to ring ChildLine’s 0800 1111 help and advice line, Gilly explained that it actually costs the charity around £4 to fund each call, therefore the pupils had raised enough to cover the cost of 577 calls from youngsters in need.   Pupils Alicia Phillips, and twin brothers Dominic and Henry Hayes, all aged nine are pictured above with Gilly Hartley and Buddy, the charities’ mascot.  Alicia described the whole experience as “breath-taking”, while Dominic said he liked the penalty shoot-out best.   Henry enjoyed stepping up to the challenge, literally.  He said: “I did 236 step-ups, but I had to have a rest in the middle before I could carry on.”  Sally Wilmot, our head teacher, said: “The whole initiative really captured the imagination of all the children and we are extremely proud of their fitness and fund-raising achievements.”
 

1st November 2011