Big Hearts, Small Hands: Whitegate CofE Pupils Raise Over £800 for Local Childhood Cancer Charity

Whitegate CofE Primary Pupils See Their Fundraising in Action with Visit to The Joshua Tree

Last Friday, Year 6 pupils from Whitegate Church of England Primary School visited The Joshua Tree’s Northwich Support Centre, offering them a valuable opportunity to witness the impact of their remarkable fundraising efforts. The visit marked a celebration of their outstanding achievement, having raised an impressive £802.83 through their Autumn Fair and the sale of 3D-printed toys.

Earlier in the academic year, the Year 6 class democratically voted to support a local charity, with The Joshua Tree receiving a clear majority of the votes. Inspired by the charity’s mission to support families affected by childhood cancers, the pupils were eager to make a difference.

The visit provided the class of 30 with a valuable opportunity to see first-hand the impact of their support, including a guided tour of the centre, an engaging talk from Danielle Percival, Head of Family Support, and a chance encounter with the charity’s mascot!

Danielle, who led the tour, was struck by the pupils’ empathy and engagement.

“The children were not only respectful in how they explored a space designed to support vulnerable families, but they also asked brilliant questions,” said Danielle. “They showed a level of thoughtfulness beyond their years and even suggested great ideas for the future, including ways to make the centre even more welcoming for siblings and teens.”

Head Boy Arlo reflected on the significance of the visit:

“It was incredibly rewarding to know that we are making a real difference in people’s lives. Visiting The Joshua Tree brought everything into perspective and filled us with pride in what we have accomplished.”

Head Girl Sofia added:

“We really enjoyed visiting The Joshua Tree and finding out what they do to help other children. It helped us understand what the money we had raised was going towards.”

Class teacher Michael Heathcote commended the pupils’ initiative and empathy throughout the project:

“We have been raising money for many years but this year has been truly remarkable! We have never raised this much and it is no wonder why. The children made it clear early on that they wanted to raise money for The Joshua Tree and this gave them the extra push to give the range of projects their all. They have created ingenious games, printed 3D toys and given up their own time and energy into raising as much money and awareness of all the charity does.
Having visited the centre to present the charity with the money, it brought how special and unique The Joshua Tree is and how noble a cause it is.”

The visit even sparked new ideas from the pupils themselves, including proposals for chill-out zones, themed fundraising days, and interactive activities to support other children their age navigating difficult circumstances.

Kevin Hamer, Community Fundraising Manager at The Joshua Tree, hopes other schools will be inspired to get involved:

“Whitegate CofE has shown what’s possible when young people come together for a great cause such as The Joshua Tree Charity. We’d love to see more local schools engaging with us and fundraising, whether it’s cake sales, non-uniform days, or going gold in September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every little event helps us to continue supporting families when they need it most.”

The Joshua Tree is a charity based in the North West and North Wales, dedicated to providing tailored emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood cancer. Support from schools plays a vital role in sustaining this essential work. If your school is interested in getting involved, please contact kevinharmer@thejoshuatree.org.uk.