Bishopbriggs Academy pupils prepare to scale new heights for cancer charity

Pupils, staff and parents from Bishopbriggs Academy are attempting to walk to and scale some of the world’s best known mountains this month to raise money for the Beatson Cancer Charity, all in a Covid safe manner.

It has become an annual tradition for pupils from Bishopbriggs Academy in East Dunbartonshire to take part in the ‘Off the Beatson track’ charity walk, to help raise money for a wonderful charity and in honour of former pupil, Francesca Mancini, who was a Beatson Ambassador.

Pupils and staff from the school were disappointed to discover that due to social distancing guidelines the event was unable to go ahead in the usual manner this year. However, this didn’t stop them wanting to continue the tradition and raise money for the charity in their own way.

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Under the leadership of PE teacher Mr John McCue, staff and pupils were able to come up with the idea to walk to and climb the equivalent distance of some well-known mountains all from the safety of Bishopbriggs and the surrounding area.

From 6am on Friday 18th to 23.59 Sunday 20th September pupils, staff, friends and family will walk, run or cycle and attempt to reach the equivalent distance of walking to and climbing Ben Nevis and then on to Mont Blanc, or even further. All the Bishopbriggs participants will record their individual efforts on an app called Strava on their phone and this will allow a running total to be kept of the whole group effort. While doing this they will look to raise as much money as possible for the Beatson charity.

Bishopbriggs Academy Headteacher, Mr Gordon Moulsdale said ‘Everyone was upset to not be able to get together and go on the Beatson walk in the usual way, it’s always an event the pupils and staff in our school look forward to taking part in’. However Mr McCue who helped organise the event was delighted to say that this alternative has been found and that there is real enthusiasm for the event. ‘It’s brilliant that we can set ourselves this challenge and work towards this charity event as a school community. The enthusiasm coming from staff, pupils and even some parents is fantastic, we even hope we can beat our previous fundraising totals. This would be an amazing achievement considering the current circumstances in which we find ourselves. Everyone is excited to reach Mont Blanc early that weekend and see if we can reach a mountain even further away.’

If you would like to donate to the pupils’ efforts and raise money for the Beatson Cancer Charity, donations can be made to https://justgiving.com/fundraising/bishybeatson

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