Students raise £16,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust

15/04/09

Sixth Former Jamie Scoular will present a cheque for £16,000 to a cancer charity after months of fund-raising at Brooke Weston. Representatives of Teenage Cancer Trust, the charity which helps young people fight cancer, will receive the funds during a special assembly at the school after the Sixth Formers spearheaded an ambitious fundraising drive.

The total, which has exceeded all expectation, was raised in less than 18 months. All year groups contributed to mufti day collections, but funds were also raised by the BW Factor talent show and student-organised parties. The majority of the money was raised by students from Years 12 and 13 who had pledged to raise £15,000. They took part in a sponsored run where a group of 22, including students, staff and some parents, trained for months to complete a 10km race in London last summer. They also raised £2,500 from doing a ‘bucket shake’ at Northampton Saints’ rugby ground during a local derby match with Leicester Tigers.

The students decided to support Teenage Cancer Trust as they set up units specifically for teenagers with facilities to make their stay in hospital far more comfortable. Year 13 student, Jamie Scoular, was treated at Leicester Royal Infirmary after he developed leukaemia, and Leicester is one of the places earmarked for a possible Teenage Cancer Trust unit.

Jamie said: ‘It can be sheer hell on a children’s ward because you might have a screaming baby on one side and a five year old on the other. You don’t get privacy and the lights are put out early. There is talk of Leicester having a Teenage Cancer Trust unit put in and, if possible, we’d love this money to go towards that unit which treats teenagers from both Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.’ >>> more follows

<<<
Dianne McCutheon, Teenage Cancer Trust said: ‘Every day in the UK, six teenagers are diagnosed with cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals designed to give teenagers the very best chance of a positive outcome. As well as state-of-the-art facilities to keep patients occupied during long stays in hospital, the units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation. Teenage Cancer Trust’s aim is to build enough units so that, by 2012, every teenager will be treated on one. This includes plans for a facility in the East Midlands.’

Principal, Trish Stringer said: ‘The students, particularly this dedicated group of Sixth Formers, have excelled themselves and should be extremely proud of their achievement. To set themselves such a high target, and then to exceed it within 18 months is incredible and shows how dedicated they all are to help their peers who have been diagnosed with cancer. We here at Brooke Weston are incredibly proud of them and special mention must also be made of the staff, especially Stephanie Gonda who teaches English and Sociology at Brooke Weston, who has given them unrivalled support and encouragement throughout this venture.’

To find out how you get can help fundraise for Teenage Cancer Trust in the East Midlands, visit www.teenagecancertrust.org

Notes to Editors:

The presentation will take place at 11.35 on Monday 20 April during assembly in the Weston Theatre at Brooke Weston when Jamie Scoular will present Dianne McCutcheon, Regional Fundraising Manager for the Teenage Cancer Trust with the cheque. Please let us know if you will be attending.