Staff of small Banburyshire primary school raise thousands for charities

A group of staff, including two past members who returned for the fundraising event, undertook a towpath walk along the canal from Oxford to Aynho Wharf to raise the money for the Oxford Hospitals Charity and Katharine House Hospice.

Head teacher Peter Pitts-Smith said: “We wanted to support two charities that have been helping two of our families in our school community recently - Oxford Hospitals Charity and the Katharine House Hospice.

"We recently lost one of our parents to breast cancer and one of our Year 2 pupils has kidney cancer and is going through treatment.

“We walked from Oxford to Aynho Wharf along the canal path. We had aimed to walk a marathon’s distance but it ended up being 22 miles. We have currently raised over £2300. I'm very proud of my team.”

Familes of pupils welcomed the walkers at the end of their trek.

Both charities wrote to thank the school for its stirling efforts to raise money for their work. Oxford Hospitals Charity said it was ‘incredibly grateful’.

And Katharne House said it was ‘truly grateful for your amazing support’.

“Together you are helping to make a difference to help and support patients with a life-limiting illness and their families in our local community; helping to raise greater awareness about the services and care we provide,” the hospice said.

“Your challenge enables us to keep making every moment matter for our patients and their loved ones.”