Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
School collects more than £3000 for hospice
Enterprising pupils and staff at an Airdrie school raised a whopping £3147.25 for charity.
Through a number of fundraising efforts, Clarkston Primary collected the impressive sum to support St Andrew’s Hospice.
Exciting events held included “wearing yellow” during a sponsored walk, “splat the teacher”, a teddy bears’ tea party, and a sale of Christmas merchandise.
Head teacher Yvonne Callander told the Advertiser: “I am blown away with the generosity and support the parents and community have shown – particularly when times are at their hardest for many people, both financially and emotionally.
“I’m sure this will give our community a lift. There is no better feeling in the world than the feeling of helping others and this goes to show that.
“I am so proud of our learners and, in particular, our community champions who led the fundraising efforts. Their commitment to advertising and organising each event has been incredible.”
The school’s “wear yellow” walk saw pupils and teachers enjoy a 6k trek around the Clarkston and Airdrie communities, with P1 kids also enjoying a teddy bears’ tea party that saw them bring a soft toy into school.
Pupils then sold hospice merchandise at a specially set up stall at the Christmas market, with the “splat the teacher” event proving very popular too.
To thank staff and pupils for their efforts, the hospice gave representatives from the school a virtual tour of the Airdrie facility, led by Andrew Flynn, the hospice’s schools and community development co-ordinator.
Andrew explained how their fundraising would go towards enabling the provision of its vital services in palliative care and respite for its many residents across Lanarkshire.
Andrew told us: “Clarkston Primary School and Nursery have been incredible this last year and raised such a massive amount of money.
“The school has always been amazing to the hospice and what I really love is that it is a full school effort. The pandemic has been tough on all of us, but staff and the pupils at Clarkston have shown resilience to take on new challenges.
“The hospice is able to provide specialist palliative and end of life care for the people of Lanarkshire because of communities like this one.
“We think of all of the hospice’s supporters as part of a big family and I am so happy to have Clarkston Primary School as part of our family.”