When it comes to inventive charity fundraising, Sydenham High girls always come up trumps.  So when Year 8 decided they wanted to make a difference and raise money for Cancer Research UK, they took the title of charity’s latest campaign – Stand Up To Cancer – quite literally.

Grace Rowney and Ester Schomberg (aged 12) came up with the idea of getting the entire year to hold a sponsored stand for at least four hours on Friday 17 October – the culmination of the campaign and date of its live TV fundraiser on Channel 4.

The girls carefully worked out how to spread their standing time across the school day and then got the support of their teachers.

Grace and Ester gave a class assembly to explain the campaign and inspire everyone to get as much sponsorship as possible. They also used the campaign’s catchphrase poster game and, on the day, rattled collecting tins to raise yet more money.

The original fund raising target was £500 but with everyone’s efforts the girls are well on the way to making almost twice that amount to go towards the charity’s vital research work.

Asked what had triggered their support, Grace said: “I did it because we all want to beat cancer sooner.”  Ester added: ”On the day it was great fun and all of our year got behind it and supported it.

Well done to Year 8 for standing up to cancer and making a difference.