Pupils in Devizes have found a cool way to fundraise for other local children and families who need help.
The big-hearted children from Chirton C of E Primary School have raised £200 for Julia’s House children’s hospice by selling lots and lots of ice-creams, plus plenty of cakes and tickets to their school production.
The money raised will help to provide a lifeline of support for the seriously ill children and families that we support.
Teacher Chris Parmenter says, “Our School Council and the rest of the school voted to fundraise for Julia’s House this year, as it’s a charity close to our hearts – particularly our Head of School Council.”
Pupil Harry Thursby, who is the Head of School Council at Chirton Primary, nominated Julia’s House because our nurses and carers support his family in the home and at our hospice. Harry’s little sister Sophia has a complex life-limiting condition, which means she can’t walk or talk and suffers severe seizures.
“The School Council decided to sell ice-creams as a good way to raise money and this has been a hit – their stalls sold out each time!” says Chris.
“Our school looks at ways we can help the community and the wider world, thinking of others rather than just ourselves," he says. "This is important to us all and the vision that we have, living out our values in the process.
“We are incredibly proud that we’ve been able to raise £200 for Julia’s House, as we are such a small school. We hope this will go towards something nice at the hospice, which will benefit the children.”
After a recent visit to the school, Jo Common, Fundraiser for Julia’s House, says, “I loved meeting all the children at Chirton Primary. They were so enthusiastic about supporting Julia’s House and had so many questions about the care our nurses and carers provide to the children and families we look after. We’re so grateful for their incredible support, and we were really impressed by the creative ways they chose to fundraise for us."
She adds, “Caring for a child with a life-limiting condition can be exhausting and put immense pressure on a family. It’s almost entirely thanks to the generosity of our supporters – like Chirton Primary – that we can continue to provide essential respite breaks for the growing number of local families who depend on our care.”
