Friday, 28th and Saturday, 29th April saw Norton Hill School students take part in a unique fundraising event which raised nearly £2,000 for the school’s two chosen charities for the 2016-17 academic year – Alzheimer Research UK and local charity, Willberry Wonder Pony.
Thirty students and staff from the school’s Quantock House gave up their Friday night to take part in a music endurance charity sleepover, where they raised sponsorship from family and friends to ‘endure’ the Justin Timberlake song, Can’t Stop The Feeling on repeat for twenty hours.
The event started at 4 p.m. on Friday with the first playing of the song. Soon after, a representative from Willberry Wonder Pony, came to speak to the students about the charity’s work.
Students learned of the story behind the charity, which was started by former Norton Hill and Quantock House student, Hannah Francis, following her cancer diagnosis, to raise funds for bone cancer research and grant equine wishes to seriously ill people. Hannah was a rising star in the eventing world and used her equestrian connections to start what is now a huge charity.
The song was left playing overnight, leading to varying amounts of sleep and some tired students in the morning! The students then enjoyed breakfast and some games outside while they continued to listen to the song. Finally, after an estimated 350 playings of the Justin Timberlake song, another countdown led to the end of the event at 12 noon on Saturday (along with a lot of singing and dancing!). Students enjoyed a different piece of music for the first time in twenty hours, before being collected by parents and taken home for some well-deserved rest.
Norton Hill School would like to thank the local business community, which truly threw its weight behind the fundraising event. Event T-shirts were sponsored by Radstock Cooperative Society and food and drink to see the group through the twenty hour marathon was kindly donated by L&F Jones Food Services, Whitstone’s Fish and Chips in Westfield, as well as Norton Hill’s own catering service. The fantastic refreshments that were donated kept the students going!
Members of the public are still encouraged to support the event and the two charities involved – Alzheimer Research UK and Willberry Wonder Pony. Donations are welcome on the following link: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/quantock-sleepover
Alternatively, cash donations can be handed in to the school office during working hours.
Katherine Jubb, Head of Quantock House, Norton Hill School, said: “I was so proud of the students who took part in the sleepover.
“Their enthusiasm and behaviour was excellent and, although a lot of fun was had, they didn’t forget the reason we were all there – to raise lots of money!
“I would also like to thank the local media and businesses for supporting the event so well. Not forgetting, the amazing members of staff who gave up a huge chunk of their bank holiday weekend. There was a great atmosphere right up until the final minutes and I was delighted to be a part of it.”
Alun Williams, Headteacher at Norton Hill School, said: “The fact that so many students in Quantock House were willing to take part in this charity fundraising event is a great tribute to their public spirit.
“The two charities were chosen by the students themselves and they raised nearly £2,000. This is a fantastic amount and will really make a difference.
“We must not forget the staff who gave up their time to support the event. To spend a Friday night supervising a large group of teenagers having a sleepover with the constant playing of a modern dance track does not sound like fun – but the staff endured this to support the students and make the event possible. I am proud of them all. Well done.”