Readathon Fakenham

Pupils at Fakenham High School have been turning pages to raise money for children’s charities, by taking part in a national sponsored reading event, for the past 12 years. This year the school has broken its own record by raising an impressive £2,511, taking their overall total raised for CLIC Sargent and The Roald Dahl Foundation to a staggering £15,700. 

Readathon is the UK’s national sponsored reading event which takes place every year and encourages over half a million children across the UK to pick up their books in exchange for pledges of money from family and friends. Money raised in sponsorship is divided equally between CLIC Sargent and The Roald Dahl Foundation.

Fakenham High School has participated in the national event since 1997 with teachers, and school librarian Mrs West, encouraging all Key Stage 3 pupils at the school to take part in a week-long literary event. 

Head teacher Richard Moore says, “This is a fantastic achievement and I am very proud of the youngsters at Fakenham High School. It confirms my belief that the overwhelming majority of students are caring, compassionate individuals who also happen to love reading as much as I do.”

Pupils are encouraged to read all different types of written media and are sponsored either by page, chapter or book, depending on ability. Readathon activities at the school this year included students designed bricks to look like their favourite book as part of a wall display in the library. The school also ran a special literary competition and fascinating workshops about the writing process for Year 8 pupils held by first-time published author Nadia Bashoo, (The Hand of Destiny). Meanwhile, regular English lessons were suspended as teachers encouraged students to discuss and share their reading experiences with their fellow pupils.

English teacher Mrs Cleaver who has helped organise the school’s events says, “This year, the response has been amazing. We are very grateful to all students, their families and friends for supporting this important event.”

Readathon has been running for 22 years and has raised more than £19 million for charity with more than 30 million books being read.

“Fakenham High School have really embraced Readathon and each year they come up with innovative ideas to get children interested in reading, and raising money!” says CLIC Sargent’s local Community Fundraising Manager Karen Roberts. “It’s fantastic to accept this latest donation on behalf of CLIC Sargent and The Roald Foundation – thank you!”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

• For more information contact Ruth Bowen, Press Officer, CLIC Sargent on: 0117 314 8617 or email: ruth.bowen@clicsargent.org.uk