Press Release – Hopefully the Press are coming later today

Park Grove School – ‘Running’ a Nepal Earthquake Fundraiser

On Friday 12th June Park Grove School’s PTA are organising a fund raising event in the form of an Ice Cream stall to coincide with Running Club. This is to encourage the children at the school to think about the recent earthquakes in Nepal and to raise much needed funds for the appeal.

Every week instead of it being ‘school’s out’ for the weekend, you will find up to a quarter of the children from Park Grove school outside on the school field at the running club. In addition to the children running, the School’s outside facilities attracts a lovely community feel as the parents/carers, siblings and other children sit, play and chat whilst spectating.

The PTA has organised an Ice Cream stall to take place for all of those involved in running club this week. As Park Grove School always teaches the children that treats are ok if in moderation, with both the sun finally shining and because the children use up so much energy running, it is the perfect time to have such a ‘cool’ treat’.

Janet Jacobi (Co Secretary of the PTA) said ‘I felt it was apt because the teachers have spent part of the week encouraging the children to think about the Nepal disaster and what it would have been like to have experienced the earthquake.

I have a very good friend Chris Bartram who went trekking to Nepal during March and April. Chris already has links with Park Grove who in the past has provided freelance music workshops and has brought Students in from St John University to work with pupils at the school . Janet went on to explain that Chris fortunately arrived back in the UK a week before the disaster happened – he was so lucky. It must have been awful for the trekkers and citizens who lost their lives, homes and belongings.

Vicky Hearson who organises the Running Club felt that the theme of endurance (i.e. running club) and Ice creams to represent the icy climates which were prevalent at the time of the earthquake are very apt. It will hopefully get the children to think about the conditions out there and to create a mental image for the children to imagine the landscapes and the impossible situation once the Earthquake had struck.

Chris Bartram is holding another Nepal Fundraising Event on Friday 19th June 2015 at the Winning Post Pub, Bishopthorpe Road 8pm – tickets £5. This will feature live music by the acoustic duo ‘To the Blue’ (Chris Bartram and Jane Stockdale), and ‘Jeromes’ (swing, soul, funk, blues band).

The money raised at the Park Grove Ice cream stall and the Winning Post Pub will be going to an appeal to help re-build a school in the Everest region.