Sponsored climb to help cancer sufferer

Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date published: 25 May 2017


HEAD teacher Mike McGhee scaled new heights to help fund a dream trip for a pupil with a rare form of cancer.

He was sponsored to tackle the climbing wall at Newman College, Chadderton, along with Year 10 pastoral co-ordinator Janet Lord.

The event was part of a fundraising day at the school in aid of Year 11 pupil Connor Stubbs (16) who is undergoing chemotherapy at Christie Hospital in Manchester for an extremely rare brain tumour.

Friends and family are trying to raise £8,000 to fund his dream trip to see sea turtles in the Galapagos Islands.

Newman College pupils were asked to donate £1 to the fund.

They also sold cakes and ice lollies and took part in a sponsored run.

The event raised more than £3,000.

It also promoted the charity HeadSmart which raises awareness of the common signs and symptoms of brain tumours in children and teenagers.

Mr McGhee said that Connor ­- who should be doing his GCSEs ­- was determined to take them next year.

He added: "He is a very popular student who takes his studies seriously and takes advantage of all the opportunities school life has to offer him.

"The idea for the fundraising event came from both staff and students who were very, very keen to take part."