Reggie’s 100-mile run to raise cash

A YOUNG volunteer has been developing new skills while helping his community.

Reece Childs, 15, has been working for the volunteer group Jolly Good Communities in Cudworth for two years now.

With them, he helps set up events while supporting their planning and delivery within the community.

Through this, the Outwood Academy Shafton pupil has developed a variety of new career skills, particularly improved organisational and financial awareness.

He said: “The first event which I took part in was the spring farmers’ market and I enjoyed it so much that I continued to volunteer for the following years.

“The most recent events, which marks two years’ volunteering with Jolly Good Communities, was this year’s farmers’ market and after that it is the Medieval Mayhem which is for two days in May.

“As well as this, I have been a volunteer at school when they plan Student Voice events. I often ask to help plan and help to set it up.”

Reece has become a valued member of the school’s Student Voice team, supporting the successful running of school events including careers’ evenings, Bee Kind Club and Bike Fest which has raised in total more than £6,000.

Assistant principal Sarah Riley added: “Reece has successfully become the student voice lead for the charity committee and it is a pleasure to see him flourish in his role over the last few years as he now supports younger students in the academy too.

“We are very proud of Reece and his achievements.”

A LOCAL school football team is vying for national success.

Lacewood Primary School, in Bolton-upon-Dearne, have so far this year won both the Pokemon Cup in South Yorkshire and the Don and Dearne-focused Totty Cup.

With these wins under their belt, the team of year six students – all aged ten or 11 – are looking to make a national name for themselves, and managed to represent South Yorkshire at Liverpool FC’s academy back in March.

Chris Brook, who organises the Totty Cup, told the Chronicle: “They’re an exceptional team who’ve got so far.

“I think this new national push will really build up the side.

“The staff are spectacular and the children’s parents have all been really supportive.

“It’s one of those teams where these players will be remembered for years.

“Hopefully, they do well nationally and then they’ll be an even more remarkable team.”

These football champions have been nominated as Young Sports Team at this year’s Young Champions for their continued dedication and success.

Ross Edwards, who coaches the team, told the Chronicle: “I’ve seen this team come together over a few years now.

“The key is that they all play together outside of school, which makes my job a lot easier.

“They’re obsessed and football mad, but they’re also nice kids who carry on doing well in school. The kids are doing really well.”

A YOUNGSTER raised more than £1,500 over Christmas to support a fellow pupil who’s suffering with cancer.

Reggie Cartwright, ten, ran 100 miles in December to raise funds for Children with Cancer UK, after he found out that a fellow Gawber Primary School pupil had been diagnosed with cancer.

He originally planned on finishing the full distance on Christmas Day, but ended up going above and beyond and managed to complete it a day early, raising more than £1,500 for the charity before Santa set off.

Teaching assistant at his school, Ellie Richardson, said: “The other pupil’s not even a friend, just someone else in school he wanted to support.

“Every day he would be putting up videos on Facebook saying ‘I did a steady five miles today’ – he’s only ten, there’s no such thing as a steady five miles at his age.

“Reggie was very modest about his achievement and did not tell his teachers at school what he was doing.

“When everyone did find out he was rightly proud of himself, and glad that enough people knew about it to sponsor him, but didn’t want any praise.”