Danetree pupils run for other people’s lives in cancer fundraiser

​Pupils from Danetree Primary School in West Ewell put their best feet forward in the fight to find a cure for cancer recently when the school organised its own Race for Life event – bringing in over £3000 in the fight against the killer disease.

​Fundraising races organised nationwide by Cancer Research UK take place on a regular basis, but ones organised specifically for schoolchildren are slightly less common place.

“We sent out a letter to all the children’s families explaining what it was about, and why were so keen for them to get involved, and the response was fantastic,” said Danetree teaching assistant Liz Beesley, who was one of the event’s organisers.

“Each year group was given a specific time slot to do laps of the school field, and the level of involvement was wonderful – a lot of them did extra laps, and I heard several of them talking about wanting to do it again next year.”

Danetree, a member of the Surrey-based GLF Schools multi-academy trust, is set to expand significantly in the autumn term, making it one of the biggest primary schools in the area. Around 500 pupils from across all year groups took part in the Race For Life, helping raise an impressive total which continues to raise.

“So much effort and money is going into research to find a cure for cancer, these children could be the ones who see it happen in their adult lifetime, so to get them so actively and enthusiastically involved, and understanding what the day is about, was wonderful,” Miss Beesley explained.

“They could be the researchers and lifesavers of tomorrow – by being involved in something like the Race for Life, and bringing in such a remarkable amount of money, they’ve already made a difference when they’re still in primary school. Their families should all be very proud of them. I know the school is.”