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Staff at Furze Platt Senior School in Maidenhead have today launched a fund-raising campaign to raise as much money as possible to help Thames Hospice continue with the amazing work it does every day of the year in support of our community.

Led by Deputy Headteacher James Sheppard, 17 teachers have volunteered to be gunged by students at Furze Platt on the 20th March, with five putting themselves forward to have their heads shaved. Students at the school who donate will have their names put into a hat, with winners being selected to either tip the buckets of gunge or wield the clippers to shave their teachers’ heads.

At Furze Platt Senior School we are proud of the central role our school plays within our local community, but the incredible work the team at Thames Hospice do day in, day out, supporting people and their families and friends at the most challenging of times, is one of the most essential in Maidenhead, Windsor and around East Berkshire.

With the likelihood that all of us will be affected, directly or indirectly, by cancer at some point in our lives, the service provided by the wonderful staff and volunteers at Thames Hospice deserves every bit of support we can give it – particularly as it also needs to raise nearly £40,000 every single day in order to maintain those critical services. It is an essential community facility.

We are asking our students (current and former), parents, staff, friends, families and anyone else in our community to support our initiative by giving as generously as you can. 25 Furze Platt staff are taking part in the process – with 3 running the Thames Meander on 3rd March, followed by 17 who will be gunged on the 20th March, with 5 teachers having their heads shaved on the same day.

We are setting a minimum target of £4,000 for students to gunge their teachers and £8,000 for heads to be shaven, but we hope to raise far in excess of that. We see this not just a short fund-raising initiative, but as the start of a long-term relationship between the school and Thames Hospice. Please give all that you can!

The good news is that we have also already made a start. Before Christmas, Karen Barnes, one of our Design & Technology teachers, very generously offered to sell stock from her business to staff, with all the proceeds going to Thames Hospice. Sales to staff raised an impressive £670 to start the ball rolling.

DONATING - CURRENT FPSS STUDENTS

For every £2 each student donates, their name will go into a hat to be selected to either tip the gunge over one of their teacher's heads, or to use the clippers to shave the heads of one of the five. We simply ask that student's first and last names, along with their tutor group and house are listed when donating in Just Giving.

Should a student prefer to donate, but would rather not be selected to gunge or shave, please simply donate anonymously. However, as there is an inter-house competition as part of the fundraising process, they may wish to say which house they are in, even if that is the only detail they give!

For students, or their parents, who would like their name to go into the hat for gunging or shaving the heads of their teachers, but would prefer not to list their full name on Just Giving, we ask that you give first name and initial of surname, along with tutor group (for example James S, 9CHG, Eagle).

Should you wish to 'hide your donation from public view', but still be entered into the hat for gunging/shaving, please don't worry. While your donation amount will not be visible to the public, the school will still be able to see - unless you make your donation entirely anonymously!

For all parents who may be paying on behalf of their child / children, please could we ask that you also select the GiftAid option where possible, as that will help us raise additional funds.

DONATING - CURRENT & FORMER PARENTS, FORMER STUDENTS, STAFF, FRIENDS, WIDER COMMUNITY...

Please donate as much as you can for this incredibly worthy cause - and please do offer as many messages of support to the staff involved as you can.

Thank you so much in advance for any support you can give - Thames Hospice is an incredible place.

Furze Platt staff taking part:

THAMES MEANDER

Mr Nic Jones (Head of Progress for Year 9)

Miss Laura Sharp (Former Head of Progress for Year 7, having left the school at Christmas)

Miss Annie Towell (Head of Progress for Year 8)

GUNGING

Ms Ellie Barnard (School Medical Officer)

Miss Danielle Boseley (Head of PE)

Mrs Melanie Boucher (Student Services Assistant)

Miss Nicki Cochrane (PE Teacher)

Mr Ben Corbett (PE Teacher)

Mr Chris Djaelani (Head of Progress for Year 10)

Mrs Debbie Feather (Raising Achievement Manager)

Mr Rob Frankis (Co-Head of Science)

Mr Pete Ging (Assistant Headteacher)

Mr Tom Green (Geography Teacher)

Miss Sasha Gumbs (Pastoral Manager for Year 8)

Ms Kayce Herrick (Science Teacher)

Mrs Charlotte Ridgley (Head of Progress for Year 11)

Mrs Julia Stimson (Co-Lead, SHINE ASD Resource Base)

Mr Dan Tipp (PE Teacher)

Mr Joe Wellard-Jeffs (Head of Geography)

Mr Andrew Wyles (Assistant Headteacher)

HEAD SHAVING

Mr Chris Gill (Head of Eagle House)

Dr Michael Graham (Science Teacher)

Mr Joe Harrison (Head of Progress for Year 7)

Mr James Sheppard (Deputy Headteacher)

Mr Richard Wright (Science Teacher)

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.