A Hertfordshire school has raised £3,000 for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) in support of two of its pupils undergoing treatment for cancer.
Children and staff at Thundridge Primary marked World Cancer Day on February 4 by braving the elements to take on a 5K sponsored ‘welly walk’ to help fundraise for, and raise awareness of, a cause close to their hearts.
Acting Headteacher Heather Foster said:
“This is a very personal cause for both staff and pupils, so we used this day to help explain what cancer is and the kinds of treatments that these two amazing boys are undergoing.
“The whole school, including the nursery children, donned sponsored walk bibs to raise as much money as possible for this amazing charity who support young children with cancer.
“We all battled the elements and the terrain, walking up steep hills and through muddy puddles.
“At the end of the walk our efforts were rewarded with cakes and treats at Jean’s Orchard opposite the school.
“These were donated by The Friends of Thundridge School, pupils and their families, Tesco, and the local village shop, Ermines, who donated all takings from the refreshments.
“One of our pupils, Phoebe Le Grys, had also handmade her own jewellery to sell at the event, raising £93.
“This was a fantastic effort by everyone for an amazing charity very close to our hearts.
“To have raised over £3,000 is amazing and a real testament to the level of community that we have as a school and a village, and everyone has really pulled together to support this amazing cause.
“Thank you to all those who made the event possible and donated their time, money or efforts. We’re all so proud of what we’ve achieved, especially since we are such a small school.”
Together with parents and villagers, 77 of the school’s pupils and staff completed the walk, including the two children diagnosed with cancer. Heather said the pair “are an inspiration to us all” and that it was great to see them taking part alongside their friends.
She said: “They’ve both been absent from school for a long period of time due to treatments and are now slowly beginning to be able to return to school and this was the perfect event to welcome them back.
“They both took part in the walk and walked the entire way. Their friends were so happy to be able to spend time with them and enjoy being in their company.”
With COVID restrictions limiting the amount and size of events that the school has been able to hold in recent times, the welly walk was a welcome opportunity to come together for a good cause, and its success has inspired plans to fundraise for CCLG in the future.
Heather added: “This has reignited the sense of community in the school and helped to strengthen our links with the residents of the village.
“We’re really hoping this can continue and we’re already considering plans for CCLG’s Big Play Date fundraiser in March.”
Ellie Wilkinson, of CCLG’s Fundraising team, said: “We loved seeing Thundridge Primary School's welly walk - it looked like they had a fantastic day and, crucially, they’ve raised an amazing amount to help children with cancer while supporting their two schoolmates.
“We’re also delighted to hear of the school’s plans to support our upcoming Big Play Date campaign, and can’t thank the pupils, staff and wider Thundridge community enough for their continued support.”