A school in Surbiton is helping veterans in its local care home by taking part in a charity walk.
Twenty pupils and teachers from Southborough High School will raise money for Royal Star & Garter when they take part in the 10km Winter Walk through London on Saturday, 25 January. The school visits the charity’s Surbiton Home regularly, and hope to raise £1,500.
Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. It also has Homes in Solihull and High Wycombe, and has launched new services reaching out into the community.
Pupils from the school in Hook Road have been visiting the Surbiton Home since last year, as they work towards their Young Leaders Award. Royal Star & Garter residents have also been to Southborough High to give talks to Year 7 students.
Headteacher Niall Smith and Senior Assistant Headteacher Dan Edwards will join pupils in the Winter Walk, along with school governor Matthew Iles. Mr Edwards said: “The weekly visit of our Young Leader students is sincerely the highlight of their week, and I know residents take a great deal of joy from it too. To see the compassion and mutual respect grow between the young and old in our local community is truly inspirational. As a result of this proud intergenerational friendship, Southborough High School’s Young Leaders, and teachers, have put themselves forward for the London Winter Walk to raise funds and support the residents and staff at Royal Star & Garter.”
Southborough High will be joined on the walk by Heather Perkins and Ryan O’Connor, who are both RAF veterans, and are also raising money for the charity.
Heather, who left the RAF in 2014 after serving nearly five years, is now Senior Partnerships Officer at Royal Star & Garter. She said: “This is our first fundraiser of the year and we’d love to start with a bang and raise as much money as possible, to help the veterans we care for. I’m really looking forward to the Winter Walk, and joining Southborough High School and my friend Ryan on the start line. I’m very grateful for their support and hope we can raise lots of money!”
Ryan attained the rank of Senior Aircraftman (SAC) during his five years in the RAF, before leaving in 2013. He said: “Royal Star & Garter is a charity which helps veterans and their families, and one day that might be me and my family. So, I’m really happy to be doing this for such a good cause.”
To sponsor Southborough High pupils and teachers, click here.
To sponsor Heather, click here.
To sponsor Ryan, click here.