(Blue) Head Boy raises £1200 for Sue Ryder
For 5 weeks Mitchell Staff (16yrs) has been sporting blue hair in memory of his Grandad
Whilst people stare, laugh and joke at my expense (fairly so), with the help of my extremely generous family, friends, teachers and work I have raised £1,200 for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, smashing my original target of £500.
Just over a month ago I decided to dye my brown hair a vivid blue, with the permission of the school and The Old Paper Shop coffee lounge where I work part time, to raise money for Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough. I have volunteered in the Hospice’s fundraising team for over 2 years but now have taken it one step further and tried raise some money myself.
In 2010, my grandad, John Staff, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer following bowel cancer. During the last few days of his life, Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice provided outstanding care and support for him and our family. They were always there, in a time when they were needed most. I will be ever thankful of the care they provided; this was my way of giving something small back to a charity that is vitally important.
I am currently studying for my A-levels and settling into my new role as Head Boy, but fundraising hasn’t been too much stress as luckily everyone has been really generous. It has mainly been with the support of Spalding Grammar School that I have been able to raise so much money and my form tutor, Mr Love, said “What Mitch set out to do was admirable. What he has accomplished, at 16yrs old, is remarkable, and a great inspiration to his peers. He has displayed passion and motivation for a cause close to his heart and I am sure his Grandad would be proud of his achievement, as are we.”
I don’t really like being the centre of attention and so having blue hair has really pushed me outside my comfort zone, and been really awkward at times, but the cause and meaning behind it has made this whole endeavour worthwhile.
I would like to give a huge thank you to all my friends, teachers, family and work for making it possible to raise an incredible amount for an incredible cause.
Mitchell Staff Yr12