Eden Valley Messenger

EDEN STUDENT'S DRESSING DOWN FOR CHARITY

AN EDEN student put herself up for a dressing down to help raise £1,000 for a charity close to her heart. Barnard Castle School pupil Chelsea Wilkinson stepped up to the mark to address more than 400 of her fellow students to ask them to forsake their uniforms for a day and make a donation to a cerebral palsy charity. Chelsea, 14, of Kirby Stephen, whose older brother Karl has the condition, spoke to staff and pupils in the school chapel about how the ailment affects life.

Barnard Castle School chaplain Rev Stephen Ridley said:

“Each year the school charity committee helps to raise funds for a number of causes.

“It is very rare that we get a request from someone as young as Chelsea but she approached us and asked if we would consider holding a non uniform day for cerebral palsy.

“We were only too happy to help but we did ask her to speak to the whole school, with her mum Sue, to explain to pupils exactly how the condition affects people and their families.

“She was very nervous addressing such a large audience but everyone was very impressed with what she said and were more than happy to donate to the charity.”

Chelsea has also helped to raise much needed donations as part of her role as fundraising assistant for the Cumbria Cerebral Palsy Society organising events including fashion shows, cake sales, domino drives, buffet lunches and coffee mornings.

Mum Sue, who also spoke to pupils at the school, said:

“I was very proud of Chelsea when she told me what she had done. It was very much her own decision and I was happy to support her.

“She has always taken a keen interest in helping others especially her brother Karl.

” Karl, 18, who accepted the cheque on behalf of the society, added:

“Chelsea is spot on; she’s the best.”

Pictured: Caption: Barnard Castle School students make a grand gesture after raising £1,000 for cerebral palsy research, L-R, Chelsea Wilkinson, 14, Chloe Thacker, 13, Rev Stephen Ridley, Karl Wilkinson, 18, Hannah Pullan, 14, and Sophie Brown, 14.