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Posted: Tuesday 16 June 2009

Cheque for CHAS

CHAS Cheque PresentationPupils at Hutchesons' Grammar School have presented a cheque for £34,500 to Children's Hospice Association Scotland at special assemblies for primary and secondary pupils.

"This magnificent total will be used to help fund treatments and research projects, both locally and nationally," says Jim McDougall, Depute Rector in charge of charitable giving at Hutchesons'.

Grace Wilson, Fundraiser for CHAS, says "The money raised at Hutchesons' will be spent on a play area in the garden of Robin House in Balloch, providing an adventure area for all children using the hospice.  It will provide sensory stimulation as well as swings, roundabouts, slides and a treehouse. All of the experiences we create, the memories we share and the care we provide could not happen without the support of schools like Hutchesons' Grammar School. Thank you."

CHAS is a Scottish charity established to provide hospice services in Scotland for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions.  The charity offers professional care, practical help and emotional support to the whole family, usually from the day they are referred until the death of their child and beyond.

During the 2008-2009 session, pupils from the Secondary School at Beaton Road and the Primary School at Kingarth Street have organised tuck shops, talent and fashion shows, and slogged through mud in a whole-school cross country race. The Teachers' Mile found the staff running around the playing fields watched by pupils. First-year pupils organised a Burns Supper for their parents and sixth-year pupils and staff warbled at a Curry Karaoke evening.

Mr Finnie - losing his moustacheOne member of staff who really got involved was David Finnie, janitor for 24 years, who shaved his moustache for CHAS following a request from a Primary 4 class, who raised more than £1,000 to encourage him to do so!

CHAS Cheque Presentation

 

 

 

Charitable fundraising is an integral and popular part of life at Hutchesons', according to Rector Dr Ken Greig. Each year pupils and staff nominate a single charity to benefit from the proceeds of its fundraising activities and pupils and staff are encouraged to devise different events throughout the year. "The hospices are inspiring and imaginative", he said, "and the school has really risen to the challenge of helping CHAS."

The School also supported the Intensive Baby Unit at the Royal Alexandria Hospital, Paisley and made regular donations of clothes and toiletries to the St Rollox Asylum Seekers Centre in Springburn. Former pupils Fiona Shaw and Andrew Watson are both climbing Mount Kilimajaro for Childreach, a small charity which provides help for children in East Africa. Several members of staff are running the East Kilbride Half Marathon on 21 June, again for CHAS. "It's further proof," says Mr McDougall, "of how much the Hutchie community has taken this deserving cause to its collective heart."

 

Tags: Charity, Community, Ethos

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