Pupils and teachers at The Polesworth School raised over £1,300 for Malaria No More UK

The Polesworth School in Staffordshire have taken on the malaria fundraising challenge in memory of their dear friend Joseph Achana who sadly passed away in June of this year in Ghana. The school had been working closely with Joseph since 2001. One of his many roles included being their in-country guide during student expeditions to Ghana.

Joseph’s life work was to ease the lives of Ghanaians making them easier, better and happier. He really was an inspiration to everyone who he worked with, met and connected with.

As the schools Internationalism and Development Education Co-ordinator
Sharon Leftwich-Lloyd says: “The world is a poorer place today without Joe’s effort, determination and love. That he died as he did makes us deeply ashamed of the inequalities still present in the world today. He suffered an asthma attack and the hospital’s oxygen supply had been depleted meaning there was no treatment available for Joe.”

To channel their efforts into something positive in Joseph’s memory the school decided that in true ‘Joe Spirit’ some of the teachers would pledge to face their deepest fears to raise money for Malaria No More UK.

On Friday 21 September the school held a ‘Malaria No More Day’ – the main focus of this was for staff members to face their fears arranged by Voice, their student council. Deputy Head, Jo Howell faced her fear of using a big spoon to eat (!!); Maura Favell, Deputy Head, and Caroline O-Reagan, Head of Religious Studies, both held spiders for the first time (amid screams); while Head of Psychology, Deb Gajic was locked in a cupboard for the duration of break time and Sharon Leftwich-Lloyd drank milk for the first time in 29 years facing a deep-rooted childhood fear! Quite an achievement!

So far they have raised an incredible £1,347.79 and more is set to come in as Richard Price, Head of Year 9, has agreed to face his fear of heights by completing a skydive later in the year.

Thank you to all of the staff and pupils at The Polesworth School for being such brilliant sports and raising funds to help make malaria no more!

Find out more:
See how your school could get involved
Or get in touch: email fundraising@malarianomore.org.uk or call 020 7801 3840