Share:
27 April 2018
Portsmouth High School’s Head Girl team were delighted to announce that they have raised over £8,000 for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MDNA), a national charity focused on improving access to care, research and campaigning for the disease. In a moving assembly to the whole school, the Head Girl team presented, Mr Andrew Lane, local MNDA representative, with a cheque for £8,009.41.
The Head Girl team spearhead fundraising activities throughout the year to generate money and raise awareness for their chosen charity.
‘MNDA is a charity very close to the heart of Portsmouth High School,’ said Head Girl, Nancy Fenton. ‘We hope that these funds can not only go towards much needed research into the genetic causes of the disease but also to help local families too.’
Most of the fund raising efforts took place last November during Portsmouth High School’s Charity Week. This dedicated week has been running for over 25 years and is always organised entirely by the Sixth Form. The week is made up of talent shows, live music events, an annual netball match versus boys from Portsmouth Grammar School. It culminates in a two night Fashion Show where the Sixth Form use business acumen and entrepreneurial skills to negotiate with local shops and liaise with local businesses to put on the show.
Mr Andrew Lane, Leader of the local group of volunteers for MNDA, said:
‘That is wonderful news. Thank you so much to all of you for working so hard to raise the money and to everyone in the school for their support. We really enjoyed attending the Fashion Show, and loved the pictures from Charity Week.
‘We are so grateful that the Head Girls chose MNDA for their charity. I promise that every penny you have raised will help patients and families who have been affected by this devastating disease and go towards our research work. The UK is a world leader in research into this genetic disorder; there are 5000 people affected by MND at any one time and 2000 new cases diagnosed every year. There is no cure as yet and most doctors go through their working life never having seen a case. The disease can affect how you walk, talk, drink, eat and breathe but symptoms can be managed and the money you raise will continue to support patients and families in the Portsmouth and Hampshire area.’
