Pupils at a Cannock Primary School have gone the extra mile in support of two of their school-mates, who were given a devastating cancer diagnosis, by raising over £5,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

Earlier this year, the pupils and teachers at Gorsemoor Primary School received the crushing news that six-year-old Jamie, a year one pupil, had been diagnosed with Leukaemia. The children and their teachers were in total shock, but just as they were coming to terms with the heart-breaking news, they were given a further blow when year six pupil, Ben, who is 11-years-old, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

  

The pupils struggled to understand and deal with this earth-shattering news and, feeling helpless, they quickly decided they wanted to do something to help the boys who were both being treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. With help from the school council, the kids decided that they would fundraise in support of their friends by collectively travelling 69,200 metres – the distance from the school to the hospital and back again.

Everyone at the school, from nursery children to year six pupils, pulled together to skip, side-step, conga, jump, dance and hop the distance. Even the teachers got involved, contributing a 200m three-legged race to the total distance for Jamie and Ben.

  

As well as raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, the school also raised an incredible £4,000 for each of the boys’ families to help support them through their treatment, which is still ongoing.

Nicki Costello, Acting Co-Headteacher at Gorsemoor Primary School, said: “Every single person at our school has been affected by the upsetting news about Jamie and Ben’s diagnoses and we just felt compelled to do something to help the boys and their families.

“This awful situation has just shown how much our pupils care for one another, and we’re so proud of them, and the wider school community, who have come together to do their bit, despite their sadness and hurt.”

Miranda Williams, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “To have one sick pupil would have been a shock to the school, but two must have been absolutely devastating. But to turn their turmoil into action for Jamie, Ben and the children at our hospital, is so commendable, and will make such a difference in the support we can offer them here at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”