King Edward’s School in Bath has raised over £20,000 for Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support over the course of the last year, it has announced.
Representatives of the two charities visited the school last week to receive a cheque from pupils, staff and Headmaster, Mr Martin Boden.
The cheque for £20,734.86 represents the largest ever fundraising effort by the school community and was raised over the course of last year as pupils, staff and parents organised a variety of events to help raise money.
Fundraising activities included KES teams running in the Bristol and Bath Half marathons, taking part in Bath’s 5k Race for Life, music concerts, cycle rides, long distance running and cake sales.
Kaeti Morrison, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, Bath & North Somerset, said: “Thank you to all of the King Edward’s community for their incredible fundraising efforts. The amount raised for our charity is enough to pay for a Macmillan nurse for three weeks and we are extremely grateful.
“Without the support of our local communities we simply would not be able to continue funding our much needed cancer services. I look forward to working with KES over this academic year as well.”
Martin Boden, Headmaster of King Edward’s, said: “This year’s fundraising effort by the King Edward’s community has been tremendous. KES has been, and continues to be, hugely affected by cancer; several members of staff have been diagnosed in the past year, and sadly many of our pupils have been directly affected by the disease.
“Through our charitable efforts we wanted to show support for our friends, colleagues and loved ones by fundraising for Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.”
Flic Bains, charity co-ordinator at KES said: “This year has seen KES pupils, staff and parents take part in a wide range of events, from the 26 members of the KES community who completed the Bristol Half Marathon, and KES Soul headlining the ‘KES Unite’ music concert, to budding Mary Berry’s baking delicious cake after cake for termly bake off competitions.
“Mrs Moreno, one of our PE teachers, pushed herself further than she ever thought she could and completed a 100-mile run across the Westcountry in just 29 hours, 58 members of Team KES completed the Bath 5k Race for Life, Mr Barber participated in a charity boxing match organised by Cancer Research UK and Josh Lang in Year 7 cycled more than 80 miles up treacherous hills with his dad.
“I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped us to achieve our ambitious target.
“Whether you’ve run a race for us, baked a cake, sponsored us or have cheered us on from the side-lines as we limp over a finish line, you have helped to support individuals and families fighting cancer.”
