Pupil power raises thousands for Zoe's Place Baby Hospice

[dutchman]

Children from eight Coventry schools joined forces to help poorly tots



School children from across Coventry raised thousands of pounds for Zoë's Place Baby Hospice.

The Romero Catholic Academy , made up of seven primary schools and one secondary school in Coventry, presented a £4,790 to Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice.

The schools within the academy, which includes Corpus Christi, Good Shepherd, Sacred Heart, St Gregory’s, St John Fisher, St Patrick’s and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary Schools and Cardinal Wiseman Catholic Secondary School, were set a challenge to raise as much money as possible for the good cause.

Members of each school council came up with a host of fundraising activities and events for pupils to take part in including cake sales, non-uniform days, sponsored silences, discos and performances.

A special celebration was held to present the money to Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice , which provides care to babies and infants with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and needs to raise £1.3 million every year to operate at full capacity.

Pupils and staff from each of the schools were joined by Zoë’s Place staff and hospice mascot Zoë Bear. They also had a special visit from two-year-old Ethan Maclellan who receives care at the hospice.

Speeches were made by Zoë’s Place community fundraiser Jane McGaffney and fundraising manager Mick McCann.

All of the schools were congratulated on their fundraising, with three schools receiving special recognition for their efforts.

Jane McGaffney said: “All of the schools have raised an amazing amount of money for the hospice and we are very grateful for their support.

“They all came up with some very inventive ideas.

“The money raised will go towards our fundraising target as we look to increase the amount of children we can look after at one time from four to six.”

Dean Kavanagh, chair of the board of directors at the Romero Catholic Academy, added: “Members of the school councils did an excellent job organising and co-ordinating a range of fundraising activities which all of the pupils joined in with. They have learnt a lot from working collaboratively to overcome challenges and see an idea through.

“Zoë’s Place is a wonderful local cause and it was excellent to welcome Jane, Mick and other staff as well as Ethan to our celebration.”