Children smash charity target

Fantastic fundraisers at St Joseph’s School, Shaw, have raised $5,000 for the £17 million radiotherapy unit appeal for the Royal Oldham Hospital

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INVENTIVE pupils from Shaw’s St Joseph’s School are celebrating a whopping £5,000 donation to the Christie’s at Oldham appeal.

The year six youngsters threw their support behind teacher Steve Hill when he announced he would climb Mount Kilimanjaro last summer for the cause.

He shared with them the planning, training and excitement of the arduous journey, grabbing their imagination to the extent they organised their own long list of fund-raising events.

They collected unwanted clothing which they exchanged for cash, painted nails, ran a lucky dip, collected coppers, sang Christmas carols to shoppers, hosted an afternoon tea and held all manner of sales from mince pies and shortbread to toast, ice-lollies and cakes.

The result was an impressive £5,000.

A group of 10 and 11-year-olds paid a visit to the Christie centre at the Royal Oldham Hospital to mark their achievement.

The £17 million radiotherapy facility is due to open next month.

The children who helped make it happen were given a huge thank-you from Christie appeals workers.

Mr Hill said the incredible success in smashing the original £1,000 target was down to the enthusiasm and support of the whole of St Joseph’s School.

He added: “The children have been fantastic in initially encouraging me to take up the personal challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and then supporting throughout.

“I don’t think I would have done it without them, it was a team effort.

“They have worked so hard. They enjoyed their charity fund-raising and have certainly raised awareness of the work undertaken by the Christie’s at Oldham appeal.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout the last few months.”