25 May 2012

It has been fundraising and charity efforts all the way at Bolton School, as the Junior Boys kicked off our whole school fundraiser for the LivLife charity. The boys took to the field dressed in an array of colourful fancy dress outfits in their annual Fun Run - the first event in a series of events at Bolton School to raise money for the charity. Football players, cavemen and cowboys ran alongside ghosts, daleks, bananas and even Olympic torch bearers! Joined by the Head of Junior Boys Mr Stephen Whittaker, and Mr Tim Dickinson, the boys ran around the Senior School running track for 40 minutes. For the first time in Bolton School's history, all parts of the Foundation, including pupils and staff, will come together to raise funds for a single cause, culminating in a day of action on Tuesday 10th July. In what will hopefully be a record-breaking day, all pupils and staff will wear Masaai clothing or red clothing to symbolise the Masaai, and undertake various fundraising activities including a sponsored walk to Rivington Pike. The LivLife Foundation is a charity set up two Old Boys that provides free and relevant education and vocational opportunities to some of the world's poorest people through educational centres in Tanzania.

Year 10 Girls' Division pupil, Eleanor Harding, ran the BUPA Manchester 10k run, raising over £1000 for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, despite being mid-way through an 18 month maintenance chemo regime herself. Eleanor ran the 10k in just 49 minutes, along with her parents and brother who supported her along the way. Since last year, Eleanor has moved from intensive chemo to a maintenance regime and has been working hard to regain her fitness. With the help of her gym, Virgin Active in Bolton, she has been following a programme to build up her strength and this, along with training with her dad, resulted in Eleanor being able to complete the run in a fantastic time without stopping.

And over one hundred staff, students, parents, alumni and friends of Bolton School enjoyed a glamorous black tie and evening dress dinner at the School's Arts and Conference Centre in order to raise funds for a forthcoming rugby tour to South Africa. A drinks reception was followed by a three course silver service dinner, and music on the night was provided by Ben Thompson (better known for playing Ryan Connor in Coronation Street), who plays with Manchester indie band the Rusholme Ruffians. Toby Cowling, a Year 12 student, also provided musical accompaniment on the night. The evening, which included a raffle, raised over £2,000 for the boys' forthcoming rugby tour to South Africa. The tour has also secured rugby shirt sponsorship from Deloitte, polo shirt sponsorship from Barton Grange Garden Centre as well as backing from local firms, DRL, Relph's Funeral Services and Silk Group.

And today the Headmaster of Bolton School Boys' Division has started tweeting.  You can view Mr Britton's Twitter account at https://twitter.com/#!/Philip_Britton.