School’s fantastic fundraising raises over £26,000 for charity

More than £26,500 was raised by Tonbridge School boys and staff in a series of fundraising events over the weekend of 21/22 April.

A concert in the school chapel, a cycling challenge, a 24-hour swimathon and a night ‘sleeping rough’ were all part of a magnificent effort to raise money for several charities, with which members of the school have strong personal links.

Performed by close harmony group Coll Reg – former choral scholars from King’s College Cambridge – the concert was in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Boys, parents, friends and Tonbridge staff were treated to pieces ranging from Byrd, Campion and Passereau to the Backstreet Boys, Carly Rae Jepsen and Cab Calloway. This was interspersed with two pieces played by the hugely talented organist Alex Stobbs, who himself has cystic fibrosis.

The 24-hour cycling challenge was carried out by boys from Hill Side in aid of house charity Family Spirit Child Care Centre in Uganda. This organisation provides a home to vulnerable children, including orphans, victims of abuse and home violence, and those affected by war.

Boys each put in a stint using exercise bikes at the Tonbridge School Centre and together they cycled the total distance from Tonbridge to Masindi, Uganda – some 6,400km. The highest mileage put in by a boy was 203km, the average participant managed 84.5km, and cyclists included three staff children, all the tutors, two matrons and the housemaster and his wife, as well as the Hill Side boys.

Housemaster Patrick North commented: “The 1am session out on the Tonbridge School Centre balcony, with rain sheeting down and house music pounding, was particularly memorable.”

Meanwhile, boys from Park House took part in an equally impressive 24-hour swim to raise money for The Silas Pullen Fund and The Brain Tumour Charity. Sixty boys swam a total of 3,684 lengths, which amounts to more than 92km.

The event was organised by Rufus Pullen (PH4), whose brother Silas died of a brain tumour in 2013. Rufus’ family have campaigned since to increase awareness of, and fund research into, brain tumours, the biggest cancer killer of young children, with the aim of helping other families gain access to improved treatments.

Finally, 137 Novi (first year) boys – and several hardy members of staff – spent the night sleeping rough in a ‘cardboard city’ constructed in the school’s Quad. They were supporting Porchlight, a charity which helps homeless and vulnerable young people in Kent.

Braving a thunderstorm and a torrential downpour during the night, boys also listened to talks from Porchlight staff about why some people are unfortunate enough to end up sleeping on the streets.

Tonbridge School’s Community Action Manager Juliet Burnett said: “This was an amazing effort by members of our school community to support a fantastic range of charities. Once again it demonstrates the school’s commitment to the wider community, and reminds us all of what we can do, with effort and imagination, to help others.”