School give charity a big donation of thanks

Buy photos » Headteacher Clive Corbett, Helen King from Burnaid along with Head of Armstrong House Emma Bliss and student Frank Richardson (s)

YOUNGSTERS at a Vale school have given something back to a charity which helped a popular student recover from life-threatening injuries.

Students at Pershore High School raised £1,000 for Burnaid which came to the support of 14-year-old Frank Richardson who suffered serious burns to his body after a freak accident in October last year.

Part of Birmingham's Children's Hospital, Burnaid is a charity which gives support to children and their family and help them to cope with living with burns scars.

Frank ended up in intensive care at Birmingham Children's Hospital and was off school for several months so he could recover.

Students and staff at the school organised a fund-raising Christmas fayre a year ago to help raise much-needed funds for the charity and last week handed a big cheque to the charity as a result of their efforts.

Emma Bliss, class teacher and Head of Armstrong House at the Station Road school, told the Observer the students were very keen to give something back to the charity after learning of Frank's ordeal.

"We were very grateful for everything Burnaid did with Frank and staff and students wanted to raise money for them to say a huge thank you to them for looking after Frank," she said.

"Organising the event was a real team effort as the students really got behind the Christmas fayre and put all the effort in to make it successful. It was fantastic to have raised so much money for the cause and reward for the effort put in.

"It's great to have Frank back at the school, his lovely personality has certainly rebounded back to its original levels of enthusiasm. And all credit to him because he has come back so positive and has not let it affect him.

"The students have been brilliant with him and have been so keen to help him in every way they can."

The money raised will help the charity buy time and support with other young children who have suffered serious burn injuries. Pershore Youth Council has also got behind Burnaid by choosing it as their charity of the year.

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