College staff put their best foot forward in aid of the Annie Kenney Project

Oldham College students and staff hand over a £1,250 cheque to MP Jim McMahon

Superfit staff from the Oldham College raised a whopping £1,250 for the Annie Kenney Project as they took part in the Rochdale 10K and half marathon event.

A multitude of sponsors and staff contributions lifted the total raised to well over £1,000, before a cheque was handed over to Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon.

Alun Francis, from the College, said: "The contribution from Oldham College means that the appeal has nearly met its (£31,000) target. 

“If staff at other public organisations could do the same thing, then the target would be met very quickly. 

"It's such a great cause that we would encourage others to follow suit. 

"It was a lot of fun raising the money, as well as being in aid of a good cause."

"Thanks to all our sponsors for contributing."

Annie Kenney was a leading member of the suffragette movement.

She came from Oldham and had working class origins.

She was the only working class woman to hold a senior position in the ‘Women’s Social and Political Union’ (WSPU), which spearheaded the campaign for universal suffrage under the banner ‘Votes for Women'.

The Annie Kenney Project aims to raise, by public subscription, the funding to erect a statue in her honour outside Oldham's historic Town Hall, in Parliament Square.

Sculptor Denise Dutton has been commissioned to create the statue, which is due to be unveiled in mid-December.

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