Page 21 - link magazine

W. SWINDON FUND FOR DISABLED CHILDREN 21

The West Swindon Fund for Westlea headteacher gets the push
Disabled Children was given a
big push on 11th June when in aid of charity
Westlea School headteacher
Neil Griffiths was propelled
around the streets of Swindon
in a bed.
The fund has been set up to
improve facilities for children
with disabilities who live in West
Swindon. The first major project
is to raise around £15,000 to in-
stall a lift at Greendown Commu-
nity School. The project is the
brainchild of David and Karen
Jack, with help from Mr. Grif-
fiths, when their daughter Kerrie
decided she wanted to attend
Greendown with her classmates.
Kerrie suffers from a rare nerv-
ous condition which will make
control over her limbs increas-
ingly difficult. At present, exces-
sive exercise exhausts her and
will cause a progressive deterio-
ration in her health.
The bedpush was organised
by the Friends of Westlea School
Association. With Neil Griffiths
dressed up as Wee Willy Winky
accompanied by children, par- Westlea School headteacher Neil Griffiths masquerading round the streets of Swindon as Wee Willy
ents and staff in fancy dress, £270 Winkie, supported by Kerrie Jack, on the bed, David and Karen Jack, in fund t-shirts, with support from
was raised in a two hour tour of Friends of Westlea School.
Swindon town centre. Kerrie walks for the
Gerry looks all the
"People sre so generous with GRAND CHARITY
better for helping out
their donations without really fund with brothers AUCTION
knowing the cause we were rais- and friend Helen. Gerry Keefe's long struggle to IN
ing funds for," said Karen Jack."
A brave effort by Kerrie Jack, her work off some weight was finally AID OF THE
brothers and a friend, has raised tested at a fete last Saturday, 25th
Fifth Village School £140 for the Fund. July. WEST SWINDON
Although the Roughmoor "They just decided to organise Gerry who works for West FUND FOR
school will remain in a develop- a sponsored walk, made up Swindon based company PHH DISABLED
ment plan it will have been re- sponsorship forms and knocked Europe has been slimming like
moved from the three year on the doors in Featherwood, mad to get rid of the unwanted CHILDREN
budget. The project will then Moresby Close and the sur- pounds, and earning sponsor- WEDNESDAY
have to fight its way back into the rounding area," said Karen Jack. ship money for a good cause.
capital building programme "The route took them round After several unsuccessful 13TH JULY
along with many others across the houses, about a quarter of a attempts to get rid of the excess, 7p.m.
the county. Its success depends mile altogether. For Kerrie thats shb finally set herself the target of
on the outcome of the County hard work and she was knocked raising a lot of money for the WESTLEA SCHOOL
Council elections to take place out after doing the 10 laps. Her West Swindon Fund for Disabled ALL INVITED TO
next May as to whether there is brothers Matthew and Leon, Children as a way of motivating COME ALONG
continued support for building and friend Helen Woodham, herself to keep slimming.
schools in West Swindon. walked their lot and then ran With the fund in mind, and in AND BID
Commenting on behalf of the another 10. particular the needs of Kerrie
Governing body at Brookfield "We would all like to thank Jack, as well as enormous en- Gerril Keefe and Kerrie Jack at the
PHH company fete on 25th June.
School, chairperson Anne Wil- everybody who contributed to couragement from colleagues in
liams said that the Governors the fund." the PHH building at Windmill
had been been consulted on the Mrs. M. Carrier of Grange Park Hill business park, Gerry has rid
proposal to build a second school was the winner in the West herself of two stone of unwanted
on their site. "We have replied to Swindon Nat West Bank word weight.
the County saying we would quiz run during June in aid of Last Saturday a final weigh-in
prefer to see the Roughmoor the fund. took place at the PHH staff fete at
School being built on schedule. The correct answers to the Lydiard Park where she weighed
But given that we have been told clues are: in at ten and a half stone. Prizes
that this is not possible, we have 1 .panda; 2.cat; 3.camel; were awarded to colleagues who
stated that we would not oppose 4 leopard; 5.mule; 6.bear; 7.bulI; had guessed her final weight
the building of another school at 8.stag; 9.wolf; 1 O.boar; 11 .deer; correctly.
Brookfield. 12.dog; 13.otter; 14.badger; "It was the incentive of raising
"Nevertheless we feel its a 1 5.beetles; 1 6.cockroach; money for somebody like Kerrie
long way to walk from Sparcells 17.donkey; 18.cavy; 19.gerbil; and the backing from everybody
and I have been told that a direct 20.hedgehog; 21 .elephant; 22. at PHH that has kept me going,"
footpath is unlikely to be built for horse; 23.giratfe; 24.tiger; said Gerry.
25.squirrel; 26.kiwi; 27.dolphin;
12 months. I think people living 28.jaguar; 29.guinea pig; Over £500 has been raised by
in Roughmoor should start fight- 30.cheetah. Gerry for the Fund for disabled
ing for a school." Children.