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Monday, 12 November 2007
Everton and England footballer Phil Neville made a flying
helicopter visit to Bolton School to thank pupils for taking part
in a schools' fundraising campaign in aid of The New Children's
Hospital Appeal.
Fifty schools across the North West took part in Not Bothered
Day on Wednesday 14 November 2007 - an event in which pupils were
encouraged to pay £1 in return for being able to ditch their
uniform for the day!
All schools that registered were entered into a draw to become
one of five schools to receive a flying visit from the footballer,
who along with his wife Julie, is a patron of the Appeal.
Phil and Julie flew into the School in an Agusta 109 Grand
helicopter and were met by Senior Boys' School Headmaster, Mr
Brooker and cheering pupils. Phil Neville commented, "Now I know
what it feels like to be David Beckham." The Nevilles were
presented with a cheque for £1,600 from pupils from Beech House,
Junior Girls and Junior Boys as well as representatives of the
boys' and girls' sixth forms.
Mr Brooker, who compered the event, said: "Bolton School is
delighted to support the New Children's Hospital Appeal. We have
supported this charity in the past and we shall continue to do so
in the future. We have a long tradition of charity work and
fundraising and it is a central part of our ethos that pupils
engage with the real world and learn how to make a positive
contribution to society. I am sure they will enjoy grilling Phil
Neville too!"
Pupils from years 1, 2, 5 and 6, along with representatives from
the school's charity committee got a unique opportunity to pose
quick fire questions to the football star, following a talk from
Julie Neville about how, by making the effort to join Not Bothered
day, they had helped The New Children's Hospital Appeal. Phil
Neville answered all his questions very openly, citing his brother
and Paul Scholes as his best friends in football. He talked about
his pride in pulling on an England shirt and he looked back upon
the European Champions Final in 1999 as the most exciting game of
his career.
The New Children's Hospital Appeal aims to raise £20 million to
provide the new children's hospital with state-of-the-art equipment
to help doctors provide patients with the very best in diagnosis
and care. The Appeal also aims to provide parental accommodation
facilities so that parents can stay close to their child during
treatment.
Phil and Julie became patrons of The New Children's Hospital
Appeal after doctors at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, saved the
life of their baby daughter Isabella when she was born 10 weeks
prematurely.
Julie said:"Isabella spent her first eight weeks in hospital and
due to the lack of parental accommodation we were unable to stay
with her each night. We are supporting this Appeal to ensure that,
when the new children's hospital opens in 2009, parents will be
able to stay with their child whilst they are undergoing
treatment."
She continued:"The facilities provided by the money raised will
make a huge difference to families going through the most traumatic
period of their lives - spending time with their sick child in
hospital. It is impossible to explain to anybody unless they have
been through it themselves how heartbreaking it is to have a sick
child. But if you can be near them and stay on site with them while
they are undergoing treatment it can make a terrible situation
almost bearable."
You can read The Times' newspaper article about this story by
clicking
here.
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