Two pupils at the Marist Preparatory School have organised an event with school friends to raise £448 for the Thames Valley Hospice.

Rianna Monteagudo and Olivia Waldron, both aged 10, heard about the ‘Bag2School’ initiative as an ideal way of supporting a local charity.  They spoke to their Headteacher, Mrs Jenny Peachey about it, and then presented the idea to the rest of the school during an assembly.  The girls showed an example ‘blue bag’ and explained to their school friends that if the bags were filled with clothes, soft toys, bedding and shoes, a donation could be made to a local charity.  The girls made posters to put up around the school showing that the bags should be returned by Thursday 5 March.

Marist families and friends brought over 200 blue bags into the school which were filled with clothes and toys.  Bag2School collected the bags on the same day, weighed them, and confirmed how much money the school had raised for the Thames Valley Hospice.

Headteacher, Mrs Jenny Peachey said “Rianna and Olivia have shown great initiative in organising an event which has raised money for a very worthwhile cause without asking for cash.  With a dated and timed collection, it meant the initiative could be readily supported.  The girls have done an excellent job.  We look forward to welcoming a representative from the Thames Valley Hospice early next term to collect the donation and speak to the girls about the work the Hospice does.”