Students at King Alfred School Academy have raised thousands of pounds for charity during their annual Rag Week.
A grand total of £5,179 was raised for the Burnham-based mental health support charity In Charley’s memory during a week of events at the Highbridge school.
Events were held every day at breaks and lunchtimes, and included ‘Soak the Teacher’, a beard shave and a bushtucker trial plus music events.
A Rag Week variety show was held on Monday with talented bands and performers taking to the stage, and on Thursday an energy-packed band concert featuring Some Villains and Canvas Moon won praise from the capacity audience.
Friday saw a school non-uniform day take place when fancy dress was encouraged in return for donations, and this included a successful fancy dress walk into Burnham.
Head of Sixth Form Jonathan Gaskell told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s been a fabulous Rag Week this year. It’s been great to see the whole community of Burnham and Highbridge come together to raise more than £5,000 for a very worthy local mental health charity, In Charley’s Memory.”
“The 6th Form Student Union who organised and led the events deserve great credit and they’re terrific role models to all the younger students at The King Alfred School Academy. Particular event highlights included the Variety Show on Monday night and the Adult’s Escape on Thursday night that raised over £1,000 via an auction and raffle and ticket sales to see the awesome Burnham rock band Some Villains.”
“The 6th Form students are very grateful to all the staff and students who supported Rag Week this year and to the local people who gave so generously on the streets of Burnham and Highbridge during the fancy dress walk on Friday.”
“We hope we didn’t startle anyone too much, or confuse anyone as there were two Donald Trump lookalikes out there! Following this year’s success the students are aiming to raise a double-figure total next year and they’ve started their plans already!”
And Becky Hewlitt, who helped organise the music nights, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It has been an incredible week, showing how brilliant our sixth formers are and how supportive our community is to In Charley’s Memory and the school. Mike from Lowe’s Barbers, Some Villains, parents who bought raffle tickets and wristbands, and school staff all came together to show how thankful we are to such a great charity. It showed how King Alfred School Academy and the Sixth form is a real centre of the town and how much of a force for positive change our wonderful young people are.”
