A school helped to raise �700 for St Francis Hospice after holding a sponsored walk in memory of a student’s mum who was cared for by the charity.

Katy Skinner, a nurse at the hospice in Havering-atte-Bower was presented with the funds recently at Redden Court School in Cotswold Road, Harold Wood.

The event, which took place on the sports field at the end of last half term, was the idea of Jodie Whippy, aged 12, whose mother was cared for by the hospice before she sadly died last year.

Jodie said: “They really helped my Mum. They looked after her and did everything for her. They also talked to my brother and me, and helped us after Mum died. My friends all thought it was a great idea to do the sponsored walk. The boys dressed up as superheroes and the girls dressed up as dolls. It was good fun.”

Katy Skinner, a hospice Clinical Nurse Specialist, thanked the students for their generous donation and told them what the money raised would mean to patients like Jodie’s Mum, who are cared for both at the hospice and in their homes.

She explained that �700 could pay for 12 hours of nursing care in a patient’s home or for 24 hours of care in the in-patient unit.

Mrs Debbie Bennett, Head of Year 8, said, “There was an overwhelming response when Jodie suggested the sponsored walk.

“Her classmates were all eager to take part and raise money for the hospice. It was great to see so many fantastic costumes and to see the students support and encourage one another. They were a real credit to the school.”