Students to Help Raise Thousands for Charity

2nd year BTEC Business students at The HENLEY College are helping to raise thousands of pounds for charity as part of Sue Ryder’s Big Wigs Business Challenge 2012.

Events range from an evening of live music to a quiz night, from a charity dinner and raffle to a stall at the Henley Christmas Festival. As well as backing an excellent cause, supporters will enjoy an opportunities to win a meal at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant, The Hines Head, in Bray, or to have dinner in the company of several Olympic rowers from Team GB at Maidenhead’s Temple Golf Club.

Launched as a fundraising activity by the Sue Ryder Hospice in Nettlebed, this national competition challenges participants to turn the £50 that they receive in September in to as much money as possible by 6 December.

Rachael Staines, a business tutor at the College, said: ‘I have been really impressed with how the 6 teams have risen to this great fundraising challenge, it has been a steep learning curve for these entrepreneurial students in how to delegate team roles, negotiate tasks and to organise a large scale event. I am looking forwards to attending their events and hopefully seeing at least one team form The HENLEY College winning a prize at the Sue Ryder Awards ceremony in December!’

6 teams made up of over 65 students from the College are taking part in the challenge, which also forms a part of their studies. In total Sue Ryder raised over £100,000 through last year’s Big Wigs Business Challenge, enough to cover the running costs of one of its hospices for two and a half weeks.

All participating students are also invited to attend the Awards Ceremony on 12 December, held at The Sue Ryder Hospice in Nettlebed.

Student Charlie Howe, from Shiplake Cross and team leader for Team Green Fox, said: ‘This is a great way to get involved in a community challenge and have fun raising money on the way, as a team we are really enjoying the task.’

Student Gatien Proyart, from Reading, said: ‘This is a really positive challenge and it’s a good way to learn new skills and to learn how well you work in a team, it’s been a really good experience.’

See The Henley College Flickr stream for photos of recent fundraising events.