Whenever the news filtered around to the class, everyone was very saddened to hear that Ellen, who had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, was the sister of our classmate Jack.

Towards the end of the summer, we tried to make contact with as many classmates as possible and rounded up a group to participate in the Walk For Ellen on the 3rd of August in Bessbrook.  We wanted to show our support to Jack and his family. This was when we decided that we needed to play our part in fundraising money for Ellen, on behalf of St Pauls, in order to help her gain the funding to travel to America later in the year to receive trial treatment.

The school hosted a non uniform day in September, which raised over £2000.  This was the biggest non uniform collection in the school’s history.  However, we felt that we needed to do more. Many ideas were tossed around the room on fundraisers, but in the end we decided on a Family Fun Hamper with a twist. It was in a pink wheelbarrow. As a class and together with our family’s support, we decided to donate money, which then made it possible for us to buy sweets and goodies to put into the wheelbarrow.  When word got out that we were creating the hamper, many businesses got on board and made very substantial donations.  The wheelbarrow was then packed with many vouchers for theme parks, shops and restaurants.  A fantastic prize!  We were totally overwhelmed by the generosity and kind donations from the people in the local community. 

We had posters designed and we made a display board in the student foyer to promote our fundraising campaign. Each morning from 8.30 to 9.00 we all took turns sitting with the wheelbarrow in the student foyer selling tickets to the pupils and teachers, who kindly supported us the whole way through our campaign.

We decided that our wheelbarrow was too good to hide within our school, so we opened it up to the general public also. We were grateful to be able to have a stand for the full day in the Quays shopping centre and also at Whitecross Shop, where we took turns to sell tickets for the wheelbarrow and the other hampers. The support we got from the public was incredible. Our pink wheelbarrow also attended open day and caused great attraction in our student foyer.

For a full week at each year group assembly, we spoke about Ellen and our fundraising campaign, in order to spread the word.  

So, it was safe, to say by the time our draw date came every single person in the school had donated towards the fundraiser. The draw was held in the student foyer on Friday 14^th December and it was packed by pupils and teachers hoping to win the prize.  Jack picked the winner of the wheelbarrow and all the other hampers.

1^st prize (WHEELBARROW HAMPER):  Con McParland from Whitecross

2^nd prize (Hamper): Brian Toner from Whitecross

3^rd prize (Hamper): Shane McCollum from Ravensdale

4^th prize (Hamper): Sophia Sloan 1123

5^th prize (Spot prize of an oil voucher): Conor Sands

It was with the support from our form teacher Mrs McCartan, who put lots of hard work and determination into this fundraiser and with the support from every pupil in the class and the school, we raised a grand total of £2636.28.

One thing I think that myself and the class can take away from this experience is that no matter who needs our help, we, as St Paul’s family, will always be at hand to help and will show our full support.