This term will see House events and our Prefect Fundraising Day day (watch this space...), as well as our rearranged Whole School Sponsored Walk for Gap Africa. However, before all of that takes place, we look back on last term’s charitable giving and say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so generously!
In total, we have raised £33,578.81 for charity which is a staggering amount of money. This includes the presentation of the PA Summer Ball cheque that was handed over during a Whole School Assembly last term. This also included £98.19 donated to Oddballs Foundation from Bobble Hat sales. The foundation aims to raise awareness of testicular cancer and make a difference to male health around the world.
At the PA Summer Ball, £14,000.00 was raised for Alexander Devine Hospice - a local charity that provides specialist care and vital support to babies, children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Berkshire and into surrounding counties. At the ball, it was wonderful to hear from Mrs Fiona Devine MBE, who addressed attendees with a passionate and moving speech about the evening's charity.
In September 2024, £13,685.00 was raised for GAP-Africa through our Whole School Sponsored Walk which, following its postponement due to flooding, will take place on Friday 7 March. Our aim is to support the education of our sponsored children (secondary education is not free in Kenya) and also help with building developments and providing clean drinking water.
November was a busy time with four charity activities taking place. First, a group of our sixth form pupils took part in Movember - a moustache-growing charity event that raises funds and awareness for men’s health – where £160.00 was raised. The Boat Club also got in the action taking part in Teenage Cancer Trust’s Press-Up Challenge. Our senior boys did 3000 push-ups, or 100 push-ups a day, in November where they raised £2,213.00. Our Poppy Appeal for the Royal British Legion raised £356.31 and at the Christmas Fair, Jake Scotchbrook and Welsh House raised £312.00 for Cancer Research UK through their apple juice.
At the Carol Service, we continued our long-standing support for CIRDIC (Churches in Reading Drop-in Centre) where we raised a total of £1,694.95. The centre is Reading’s main centre for the homeless where they respond to the needs of the homeless and clearly disadvantaged.
And finally at the Staff Christmas Party, we raised £1,050.00 for NOMAD Henley. NOMAD Youth & Community project is an active local charity based in Henley on Thames that supports children, young people, and families.
Once again, thank you to everyone for their generous support. Whether you donated or were part of an initiative or challenge, every little part adds up to make an enormous difference and we look forward to continuing this year and beyond.