PICTURES: Frenzy of fundraising sees Golspie High School take second place in regional competition and amass £15k
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
An amazing effort by pupils and staff at Golspie High School saw them raise more than £13,000 and come second in a Highland-wide competition.
The secondary was one of 16 schools to take part in Moray Firth Radio’s Cash for Kids schools fundraising competition.
The schools were all given two and a half weeks to raise as much money as possible with the winning school standing to gain an extra £3000; the runner-up £2000; and the third-placed £1000.
Golspie High came second, raising its official total to just short of £15,000.
A teacher group led and prepared the fundraising activities, but pupils from all year groups ran the different events.
Activities included a family quiz night; a 20km sponsored walk; class film nights; bake sale; FIFA Xbox tournament; teacher leg wax; gunge the teacher and a car wash.
Music teacher Heather Smith said: “All the money raised was put into our donations page online through the MFR’s Cash for Kids website.
“The donations were hidden so we were not aware of our running total. We thought we’d maybe raised around £7000. But the day before the winners were announced, we were told that we had raised an incredible £12,936.
“Moray Firth Radio morning presenters Dan Gilchrist and Grace Nicoll of the morning show rang us to tell us we had come second and would be getting an extra £2000.
“We still had some money to come in, so we have made more than £15,000.”
Some of the funds will be used to pay for transport to and from school outwith the school day.
Ms Smith explained: “The school has a vast catchment area (60miles) and it is often impossible for us to put on after-school study support or extra curricular groups due to costs.
“A large proportion of this money will go for transport to allow our pupils to attend these activities no matter where they live.
“ As we raised a lot more than we had anticipated, we are going to ask the pupils what they would like or what they think the school needs to help them with their education and the opportunities available to them.
“Two suggestions so far are equipment/resources the school are lacking and year group trips.
“It was a tremendous effort by all pupils, teachers and the Golspie High School community. A really magnificent effort that will help current and future pupils.”
If your school is in Sutherland and you would like publicity for a fundraising or festive event, email editor@northern-times.co.uk
