Maidenhead teachers face buckets of gunge in Thames Hospice fundraiser

More than £18,000 has been raised for Thames Hospice after teachers at a Maidenhead school were gunged and had their heads shaved by students.

Twenty staff members at Furze Platt Senior School volunteered for the fundraiser, organised in solidarity with those affected by cancer, which saw its Just Giving target exceeded by more than £6000.

Deputy headteacher James Sheppard said it was a ‘fantastic day’ seeing students getting involved and supporting their teachers.

He added: “We were very lucky the sun came out to bless the event. We had 16 staff getting gunged and then four of us having our head shaved – I finished the event with no hair and covered in gunge.

“What the last couple of weeks, since we’ve launched this, has shown is how fantastic our Furze Platt community is. The way everyone has rallied together – our students who are brilliant. We’ve seen different groups do all sorts of additional things to support Thames Hospice.”

More than 1500 students and teaching staff spectated or took part in the fundraiser on Wednesday (March 20) which took place on the main playground at the school.

Pupils who donated £2 to the cause had their names put into a hat, with winners picked to either tip the buckets of gunge or wield the clippers to shave their teachers’ heads.

James said: “We’re really proud of how the students have run things and the generosity as well. To get over £18000 was amazing and a testament to what a good community we have around us.

“We’re hoping to raise more through our spring concert and raffle. There’s more to come.”

James said his friend and Furze Platt colleague Jacky Phillips who is about to start chemotherapy, was nervous about losing her hair. He decided to shave his head in solidarity with her and the initiative ‘grew from there’.

“This is about the Furze Platt community doing something for the local and wider community,” he added.

“We’re hoping this is the start of a long-term relationship between the school and the hospice – it’s such a fantastic local facility that benefits all of us who live in the Maidenhead area.

“[It] does such good work for those it looks after and one of those charities that sadly if you live in Maidenhead all of your life, will benefit from what the Hospice does either directly or indirectly. On multiple levels, it was the perfect charity for us to support and get behind.”

To donate to the Furze Platt Senior School fundraiser, visit: https://tinyurl.com/2cuujt8m