Pupils at Staffordshire primary school raise money for dementia research

Pupils at a Staffordshire primary school have embarked on a second year of fundraising for pioneering dementia research after a hugely successful first year.

The school council at Ravensmead Primary School, in Bignall End, raised around £1,500 for Alzheimer’s Research UK during the last school year through a range of activities, including cake sales, non-uniform days, raffles, a disco and collecting money on sports day.

In April the charity hosted workshops at the school where Key Stage 2 pupils learned about dementia. They made neurones out of pipecleaners, attaching their favourite memory written on the piece of paper. They also created 3D paper brains showing what each part of the brain does.

They were inspired to support the UK’s leading dementia research charity after a group of teachers and parents raised around £10,000 in 2017 by taking part in skydives. Following a vote among the pupils, they chose to support the charity again for this school year.

Deputy headteacher Julie Weston said:

“We are extremely proud of the school council and all the children for their hard work raising money for the charity and also for how they’ve embraced the cause and been so keen to learn more about dementia.

“The fact we are supporting the charity again this year is a really big indicator of how the children have really taken on board and valued what they have learned about dementia.”

Zoe Baggott, Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Regional Fundraising Officer for the West Midlands, said:

“We can’t thank the Ravensmead pupils enough for their efforts supporting vital dementia research and helping us in our mission to make life-changing breakthroughs possible for people with dementia.

“They raised an amazing amount of money last year and were so keen to learn about dementia. We look forward to following their progress during this school year.”

Any schools in Staffordshire interested in fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research UK can contact Zoe on 07469 852501 or email zoe.baggott@alzheimersresearchuk.org

The charity has a dedicated website where young people can learn about the brain and dementia. There are also resources for teachers. Go to www.dementiaexplained.org

For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org