Economic times may be tough, but boys at The John Lyon School made sure that their chosen charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital, did not lose out.

After working hard all year to raise funds for the famous children’s hospital, pupils reached a total of £7,000 – a £1,600 increase on last year.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Schools Presenter, Ms Naomi Angel, came to a special assembly at the independent school in Harrow to receive a cheque from the Head, Miss Katherine Haynes.

“Great Ormond Street Hospital is delighted that The John Lyon School chose us as their charity of the year for the second successive year,” she said. “Public support is crucial to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital’s work in treating more patients. It helps maintain the hospital’s clinical excellence in the prevention and cure of disease and illness in children.

“With the help of John Lyon we will be able to fund more pioneering research work, special equipment, rebuilding, accommodation for parents and facilities for staff, all of which help us improve the quality of the care we provide for our children and their families.

Miss Haynes paid tribute to the work of boys and staff in raising the funds: “This magnificent total is a reflection of the consistent and whole-hearted commitment shown by our school community to helping those less fortunate than themselves.”

During the year, boys took part in a range of special events to raise the money, including a ‘mufti’, or non-uniform, day involving most of the 600 pupils.

The biggest single fund-raiser was the Sixth Form’s fifth annual 24-hour ‘gym & swim’ event held in The John Lyon School Sports Centre. Under the supervision of the Head of Sixth Form, Miss Deborah Gibbs, some 160 boys from the Lower and Upper Sixth swam lengths or exercised in the gym for a minimum of two hours each over one 24-hour period. They raised around £3,000.

In addition to the money raised for the main chosen charity, GOSH, boys at the school also donated a special ward trolley, decorated by the Art Department, to Northwick Park Hospital. Northwick Park has close links with JLS, regularly giving work experience to aspiring medics from the school.

• Naomi Angel urged other schools wishing to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital to contact her on naomi.angel@gosh.org or 07976 418 994

ENDS

Picture captions:
1) Presenting the cheque: The John Lyon School’s Head, Miss Katherine Haynes (left), and pupil & Monitor, Ameer Mirza (right), hand £7,000 to Ms Naomi Angel, from Great Ormond Street Hospital (centre).
2) Ms Naomi Angel and Ameer Mirza

Issued on behalf of The John Lyon School

MEDIA CONTACTS: Miss Katherine Haynes, Head of The John Lyon School, on 020 8872 8400