News

9 February 2010

Ashley's Moving Essay Helps Alzheimer's Charities

Judges of the School's annual St John's Essay Prize were so moved when they read sixth former Ashley White's winning entry about losing her grandfather to Alzheimer's Disease that, with her permission, they approached national charities to investigate ways in which they might together help raise awareness and funds for research and care.

As a result Ashley is now helping the Bristol-based charity BRACE on a number of initiatives that will raise awareness of the illness. 

If you would like to read Ashley's story please click here to download a copy of Ashley's essay and click here to visit BRACE's website.

Despite a busy life within school Ashley has found the time to train and enter a half marathon. The Hogweed Trotters hilly half-marathon took place on Sundaty 14th March and Ashley has, to date, raised more than £450 for BRACE from sponsorship.  If you would like to support Ashley's fundraising efforts you can support her via the website:

 www.justgiving.com/Ashley-White

Further donations, totalling £200, have been received from a non-school uniform day organised by Ashley at Westonbirt School on Friday 12th March.  This was the same day that Ashley was invited to meet her local MP, Steve Webb, who had been so impressed with the essay that he wanted to meet Ashley to hear more about the background to it.

The St John's Essay Prize is sponsored by St John's College, Oxford, in grateful thanks to Westonbirt School for safeguarding its priceless art treasurse in the school cellars during the Second World War.

Ashley is pictured here with Brace's Chair Mark Poarch and Mrs Mary Henderson, Headmistress of Westonbirt School.