Helping Others
Runshaw students have a wonderful reputation for their efforts to help others.
Every year, they raise tens of thousands of pounds to support good causes.
Runshaw College has chosen ‘Excellent’ as it’s charity of the year and are hoping to raise enough money to build a Runshaw Sand Dam in Kenya, their slogan being ‘Runshaw Gives a Dam’.
Simon Maddrell, founder of the charity ‘Excellent, Pioneers of Sand Dams’ spent two days at Runshaw College, visiting all three campuses in Chorley, Euxton and Leyland, to talk to students and staff about his charity which builds Sand Dams in Africa.
Simon was very impressed with Runshaw College and the positive environment. He commented, “The learning environment reminds me of the farmers in Africa who are very focused on what they are doing and what they want to achieve, but they also know how to have fun at the same time.”
Simon gave several heartfelt and passionate presentations on how he believes that the only way Africa can develop is through conservation – the conservation of soil and water. Through the building of sand dams, the terracing of the land, and the planting of trees, an area can be completely transformed and the community living nearby will benefit hugely and in many ways. Instead of spending many hours walking to fetch water (which can be as far as 20km away), a family can simply collect water from their local sand dam. The time saved collecting water can then be spent working on the land to grow food to feed a family with some extra to sell. The money made from selling the extra food then enables a family to pay for their child to go to school.
Malaria and diarrhoea are the two biggest killers in the world today of children under 5 years of age. Because the water in a sand dam is kept under the sand it is naturally filtered and not open to disease or infestation contributing to much improved health – sand dams really are wonderful things!
Once the College has raised enough money to build the dam it is planned that a group of students will go out to Africa on an expedition to help build a Sand Dam.
Other Charities supported around college
Other charities that staff and students have raised funds for this year have included: Over £2,300 for Children in Need, £900 for Teenage Cancer Trust, £365 for the Pakistan Floods Appeal and over £9,000 for Action Zambia.
Previous Charities
The Damat Storey - Runshaw staff and students raise over £15,000
In 2010 the college chose to support a school in India which built an additional storey to provide much needed space to allow children to be educated for a full day, and up to the age of 16. The money raised also paid to remove a dangerous asbestos roof from one of the buildings.
Other Charities in 2009/10
Other charities included: Cancer Research - £770; Children in Need - £5240; Derian House - £1045; Haiti Earthquake - £2150; Graeme Ballald - £500; Sport Relief - £280; Teenage Cancer Trust - £707. The total for all other charities for 2009/10 was £13,120.
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