Youngsters run to boost cancer funds (From The Advertiser Series)

Youngsters run to boost cancer funds

3:54pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in News

OVER 1,200 students and primary school children raised thousands of pounds for children’s cancer research in memory of one friend and in tribute to another.

Teachers in Ripon organised a five kilometre race to coincide with World Sports Day and the start of National School Sports Week.

It was held as a tribute to Ripon Grammar School pupil Megan Bell-Walker, 11, who died on Christmas Day and in honour of Maddie Hartley from the city’s Outwood Academy who has just undergone treatment for leukaemia for the second time.

Grammar School PE teacher Helen MacKenzie - who has been battling breast cancer for the past three years - was one of the organisers.

She said:"It was an absolutely fabulous day, I couldn’t believe how many youngsters wanted to become involved.

"We wanted to do it on the lines of the Race for Life but to include boys, because they are so affected by this too.

“We did it throughout the day with some students racing as part of their PE lesson. Youngsters from three primary schools, Greystones, Markington and Bishop Monkton also took part."

Students each paid £3 to do the run and Helen, who was an Olympic torch bearer in Harrogate, also charged £5 for photographs with the torch.

She then worked with Emily Falcus from Outwood Academy and Rachel Speight-McGregor from Cancer Research to ensure that all the money raised goes to Children’s Cancer Research UK, with no set up or administration fees.

"We’ve also been told it will be ring fenced for research in Yorkshire," said Helen.

“We’ve already raised £5,270 and there is still quite a bit of money to come in.”

Contributions can be given through justgiving.com/riponworldsports day.