Whitworth Community High School goes green for charity

Science teacher Alison Howarth, Head Boy Daniel Heath, Head Girl Chloe Quigley, Whitworth Community High School mascot, Melissa Sutton, Humphrey Bear the hospital’s mascot, Head Girl Mia Howells and Carmel Sweeney from the school’s charity and community committee

Staff and students donned items of green clothing to raise money for a cancer ward where a fellow student is receiving treatment.

Year 11 student at Whitworth Community High School Melissa Sutton, 16, has had to miss most of her final GCSE year.

Last October she was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and since then has been cared for at Ward 84 at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Melissa’s mum Alison said: “Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and in particular Ward 84, is like our second home. It is the best hospital I’ve ever been to; the staff are so welcoming and friendly and her consultant is amazing.

“It can be hard enough being a teenager, but being a teenager with cancer is a big deal.”
Funds raised through the Be Seen in Green day will help to make improvements to the ward to make it a better environment for patients of all ages.

The school’s charity and community group has been supporting her fund raising efforts and this year has raised £500.

Melissa returned to school to host the event. Since diagnosis she has undergone major surgery and intensive chemotherapy staying in hospital five days every three weeks.

Among the most novel clothing was a green bow tie worn by Year 7 Sam Nuttall and a sparkly green dress worn by English teacher Lyndsey Mullen.

Science teacher Alison Howarth said: “Melissa is doing well and will be taking her GCSEs next year because she has had to miss so much school.

“Her friends are all in Year 11 and she has been in and out of school, she was able to go to our Year 11 leavers’ assembly.

“We asked everyone who wore a green item to donate £1 and many people who had not worn green also donated. The day raised £263 and other events
held this year took the total for the ward to £500.”

The charity and community committee have also helped many other good causes this year including wearing pink for Breast Cancer Care, 22 staff completing a mass ice bucket challenge and raising money for Macmillan.

The committee meets once a month at lunchtimes and involves students from Years 7 to 10.