Students at Maidenhead school to 'gunge' teachers in Thames Hospice fundraiser

Teachers at a Maidenhead school are set to be gunged and have their heads shaved in aid of Thames Hospice.

Staff at Furze Platt Senior School have launched a Just Giving page to raise more than £12,000 for the charity and show solidarity to those affected by cancer.

The 17 teachers have volunteered to be gunged by the secondary school students on Wednesday, March 20 with five putting themselves forward to have their heads shaved.

Deputy headteacher James Sheppard who is organising the event said the fundraiser has made a ‘fantastic start’, already raising more than £9,000 in the first few days.

He described Thames Hospice as an ‘essential community facility’, adding: “The incredible work the team at Thames Hospice do day in, day out, supporting people and their families and friends at the most challenging of times, is one of the most essential in Maidenhead, Windsor and around East Berkshire.

“Speaking to my friend and colleague Jacky Phillips, herself suffering from cancer for the third time, inspired me to do whatever I can, however big or small, to show solidarity in support of all those affected by the disease.

“With the likelihood that all of us will be affected, directly or indirectly, by cancer at some point in our lives, the service provided by the wonderful staff and volunteers at Thames Hospice deserves every bit of support we can give it – particularly as it also needs to raise nearly £40,000 every single day to maintain those essential services.”

Furze Platt students who donate will have 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.

“We are setting a minimum target of £4,000 for students to gunge their teachers and £8,000 for heads to be shaven, but we hope to raise far in excess of that,” James added.

“We see this not just a short fund-raising initiative, but as the start of a long-term relationship between the school and Thames Hospice. Please give all that you can.”

He said design and technology teacher Karen Barnes sold stock from her business to staff before Christmas and raised £670 for Thames Hospice to ‘start the ball rolling’.

Three teachers will also take part in the riverside race, Thames Meander on Saturday, March 3.

Furze Platt Senior School is appealing to current and former students, parents, staff, friends, family and community members to support the initiative by visiting: www.justgiving.com/page/fpss-thames-hospice