PUPILS and staff at Sydenham High joined forces to Stand Up To Cancer last Friday to raise crucial cash for life-saving research.
More than 600 pupils and 150 staff took part in a range of fundraising activities including a sponsored ‘Stand Up’ in lessons, a mass Zumbathon, bake sales, and an orange-themed dress down day, all in aid of raising £1,000 for Stand Up To Cancer. Their activities have raised an amazing £4,196 – more than quadruple the original target.
To add to the excitement Stand Up To Cancer campaign champion Kirstie Allsopp joined the school for the morning’s activities.
The Location, Location, Location presenter first attended Assembly where, alongside Director of Stand Up To Cancer Claire Rowney, she told the whole school how important their contribution was in helping ensure that the next generation’s lives are not blighted by cancer.
Kirstie then joined a science class examining the origins of cancer and encouraged the girls to think about choosing a career in scientific research to help find cancer cures.
She then visited the school’s cookery suite to help Bake Club members complete orange-themed cakes and pastries for a lunchtime bake sale.
Her final stop was an interview with two of the school’s young reporters – Louisa Hanton and Isabel Helszajn-Jewett. Kirstie explained how her own family experience of cancer (her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Kirstie was in her teens and her sister, given their family history of cancer, has had a preventative mastectomy) is at the heart of her passionate desire to raise awareness and funds. The more money raised, she told the girls, the more scientists can be employed in research and the sooner kinder treatments and cures can be found.
Lunchtime brought a cake sale with lots of tasty orange creations and then a mass Zumbathon, held outside in the sunshine on the school’s Astroturf.
The full day’s activities were also filmed as part of a 12-hour Stand Up To Cancer event, being streamed live on YouTube on Saturday 17 October. You can view the video after the photo gallery below.
A joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, Stand Up To Cancer aims to raise money to fund vital research that will get new and better treatments to cancer patients faster.
By joining Stand Up To Cancer, pupils and teachers at Sydenham High united with doctors, nurses, scientists and celebrities to generate funds, raise awareness and bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.
One in two people in the UK will develop cancer at some point in their lives. Stand Up To Cancer aims to raise money to accelerate ground-breaking research to help more people survive and ensure more families stay together.
Headteacher Kathryn Pullen said: “We’re so proud that our pupils will be joining an army of fundraisers across the UK in helping to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer. We have a proud tradition of charitable action. The whole school will be taking part in the fundraising activities so it will be a real team effort and we hope to raise as much money as possible for such an important cause.
“Most of us know someone who has been touched by cancer and we all have our special reasons for taking part.”
To help the school prepare, teachers used a schools’ resource kit, specially created by the charity, which includes lesson plans, an assembly pack and fundraising materials.
To support their fundraising, Sydenham High has set up a JustGiving page and JustTextGiving code. To donate please visit: – https://www.justgiving.com/Sydenham-High-School-GDST/
and go to the Stand Up To Cancer campaign page. Alternatively, text: SYDH87 £3 to 70070.
