Congratulations and a big thank you to everyone who has helped organise or contribute towards raising funds for our chosen charities for 2017/2018.

Over the last year we have raised an amazing £8,537.75 for Alzheimer’s Society and £7612.88 for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. This year’s finale activities and events have included a bake sale which raised £129. Thanks go to Patrick Dooley, Amanda Brow, Lisa Hall, Gracie Hall, Richard Thompson, Vicki Parker and Ryan Johnson for all their time and treats! Well done also to Ian Addy and Emma Broadhurst who organised the Charity Wobble and raised an outstanding £492.

In May, we will officially begin to raise funds for our 2018/2019 charities, which are the Bambisanani Partnership – a life-changing project led by our Gryphons Abroad in Sport & Physical Activity, and  Candlelighters – a local charity fighting children’s cancer.

A childhood cancer diagnosis is life-changing, not only for the child, but for everyone around them. Candlelighters offers support to every family member, and their support lasts a lifetime. They run groups for mums, dads, grandparents and siblings, and offer wellness therapies such as massage, and talking therapies too. They also provide financial grants, and holidays, for every family that wants one.

Candlelighters fund important research and 665 hours of NHS staff time, from playworkers on the ward, helping a child understand and prepare for their treatment, through to social workers and speech therapists. In addition, they are also currently renovating a cottage near the ward, so that when a child is in hospital, parents and their brothers and sisters, can stay nearby.

To find out more about our chosen charities and to see more of our fundraising, visit our charities page.