On Friday 19 September, the school community united for a mufti day and a spirited game of Assassins to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association. 

The initiative was inspired by Lucinda (UVI/Year 13), whose uncle was diagnosed with MND in 2022. Determined to support a charity close to her heart, Lucinda collaborated with Head and Deputy Head Seniors Hettie and Rose (UVI/Year 13), who proposed Assassins as a fun way to bring the whole community together. 

Motor neurones are the nerve cells that carry messages from the brain to the muscles, enabling movement, speech, swallowing, and even breathing. When these neurons cease functioning, the brain can no longer communicate with the muscles, leaving a fully active mind trapped in a body that gradually loses its ability to move. Although once considered rare, MND diagnoses are rising and increasingly affect younger individuals, including athletes. 

Motor neurones are the nerve cells that carry messages from the brain to the muscles, enabling movement, speech, swallowing, and even breathing. When these neurons cease functioning, the brain can no longer communicate with the muscles, leaving a fully active mind trapped in a body that gradually loses its ability to move. Although once considered rare, MND diagnoses are rising and increasingly affect younger individuals, including athletes. 

The MND Association provides vital support, including adapted equipment and communication devices, and funds essential research with the hope of finding a cure. 

“To see the whole school involved with such enthusiasm while raising money for such a worthwhile cause was wonderful to witness,” said Mrs Emma McKendrick, Headmistress. “Congratulations to our Sixth Form leaders who ensured that alongside a healthy sense of competition, there was great kindness and inclusivity.” 

Thanks to the creativity of Lucinda, Hettie, and Rose, the generosity of pupils and staff, and the spirit of the whole school, the day was a huge success. 

Support the cause via JustGiving: HERE

Learn more about the MND Association’s September Appeal: HERE