Thatcham schoolgirls raise hundreds for cancer charities

Georgina Henson, aged nine, Stephanie Bowman and Millie Heasman, both aged eight, set about raising funds for Myeloma UK and Cancer Research after one of their grandfathers was recently diagnosed with Myeloma, a cancer arising from plasma cells.
The trio decided to hold a fundraising event and organised a cake sale, raffle, teddy tombola, games, and a general sale at Francis Baily School last Friday.
The girls searched through their toys for items to donate for the tombola and asked family and friends to contribute items to the tombola and raffle, as well as help bake the cakes. But they were not content with doing one stall, as they wanted to make as much money as possible.
They discussed all their different events that they wanted to do in school and went to the headmaster, Chris Davis, who signed off on the event and let the girls advertise the event on posters around the school.
The fundraising trio have raised £573.50 for the two charities, with £234.25 being donated to Cancer Research and £339.25 to Myeloma UK. Georgina’s mother, Abi Henson, helped them on their way by holding a coffee afternoon the week before the main event.
Proud mum, Tarnia Bowman, said: “I have never seen three girls of such a young age so determined to do well to make as much money as they could for the two charity’s and certainly holds them in good stead for their futures and helping out others.
“They were very impressed with the amount of money they raised, and have received plenty of praise from those that attended the event, and everyone that has seen the amount they have raised.
“Abi, Sadie and myself, are so very proud of how they’ve gone about it all and what they’ve achieved. The amount of parents around the school that have stopped to tell us how much of a credit to us they are, is an amazing feeling.
"To be honest, I really don’t think it’s sunk in as to actually how much money they raised – it’s an amazing amount for three young girls to achieve for such worthy causes.”
The girls would like to thank everyone that donated prizes and cakes, purchased raffle tickets, and those who attended their event.