St Bart’s students raise £100k for Newbury Cancer Care

More than £100,000 has been raised for a Newbury charity by pupils at a school in the town.

Cunock House, at St Bartholomew’s School, has reached the staggering milestone after their latest donation of £11,500 to Newbury Cancer Care, the house’s nominated charity.

Dr David Fitter, St Bart’s headteacher, Lisa Hamblin, Curnock house manager, the sixth form house captains and Curnock Year 7 students recently welcomed representatives from the charity to the school for a special cheque presentation.

Paul Millard, the founder and president of Newbury Cancer Care; Dave Ormrod, its chair of trustees; and Helen Milroy, its director of operations, were also joined by Mike Hart - the former head of Curnock house and a strong champion of the tradition of fundraising for the charity – for the event in the sunshine at the school’s Heritage Garden.

Dr Fitter said: “I am so proud of our houses and all that our students have achieved for their nominated charities.

“I believe it is so important that students feel part of our community, and also that they strive to contribute to that community.

From larger House Evening fundraisers to individual students raising money through cake sales or personal challenges, every penny helps and reaching this £100,000 has been a huge collective effort over the years.

“I hope that this achievement motivates all our students and reminds them of how we can all make a difference”

The heritage garden at St Bart’s is home to four memorial stones to pupils who died in the First World War and after whom the four houses are named.

The four school houses - Curnock, Davis, Evers and Patterson - are at the heart of school life at St

Bart’s and, alongside many fiercely-fought house competitions, the houses also encourage students to contribute to the wider community through their nominated charities – Newbury Cancer Care (Curnock), Swings and Smiles (Davis), Mencap (Evers) and Guide Dogs (Patterson).

Curnock house has been fundraising for Newbury Cancer Care since 1987 and following the cheque presentation, Mr Ormrod spoke of the work of the charity to support local people who have been diagnosed with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.

He told the students how the money raised by the school had already helped to fund the Rainbow Rooms, based at the West Berkshire Community Hospital, and of how the recent donation will further the charity’s plans to provide more of these important spaces, including a garden to be aptly named the Butterfly Room.

The charity then presented students with a plaque to mark the achievement.

Mr Hart spoke of his pride of his association with St Bart’s and Newbury Cancer Care and he told the gathered students how delighted he was that they were continuing to fundraise and urged them to keep up the good work and to set themselves the future target of one day hitting £150,000!