A GROUP of students from a South Yorkshire secondary school have been given an award for their fundraising efforts, which saw them raise almost £2,000 for Rotherham Hospice.
Year 10 students from Aston Academy, in Aughton Road, Swallownest, were joined by pupils from sister school Swinton Academy – a fellow member of the ACET Trust of schools – in raising £1,994.12 for the annual Master Cutler’s Challenge.
The two schools were named joint Young Fundraisers of the Year at the Master Cutler Celebration Event, which was held at the Cutler’s Hall in Sheffield.
The Master Cutler’s Challenge sees companies in the area receive a £50 donation. Those who take on the challenge must then use their entrepreneurial skills to make as much money as possible for the chosen charities which, for the last year, have been St Luke’s Hospice, in Little Common Lane, Sheffield, and Rotherham Hospice, on Broom Road.
Throughout the last 12 months, students have held a variety of fundraising events including a bake sale, football penalty shoot-out and sponsored walk, which saw them walk the 11 miles between the two hospices.
Sarah Sykes, careers advisor for both Swinton and Aston Academy, entered the schools in the Master Cutler’s Challenge 2019. She has praised the students at both schools for their effort.
“I am so proud of everyone who took part in the Master Cutler’s Challenge. We have come up with lots of fundraising ideas and they have used their initiative to reach this fantastic amount for two worthy charities.
“It’s great to see how much Aston and Swinton Academy students care about their community.”
Sharon Thompson, fundraising manager at Rotherham Hospice, thanked the pupils for their contribution.
She said: “Aston and Swinton were the only schools who were involved in the Master Cutler’s Challenge and raised more money combined than some of the major companies did.
“It is a fantastic effort and I thoroughly enjoyed working with Sarah Sykes and these polite, hard-working students, who are a credit to their schools.”
John Highfield, media relations manager for St Luke’s Hospice, added: “We were delighted that pupils from Aston and Swinton Academies wanted to be a part of the Master Cutler’s Challenge and that they responded so enthusiastically and successfully.
“It’s great to know that there is a new generation of fundraisers coming forward to support the work of hospices in South Yorkshire.”
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