Football tournament's charity goal

An Exeter School sixth former has helped raise valuable funds for local charity, the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, by organising a World Cup-themed charity day and raising over £3,000.

Upper Sixth Former Emily Ackland first got hooked on fund raising when she cycled from London to Paris last summer raising over £11,000 for PAPYRUS.

She said it was then that she experienced the satisfying feeling of fundraising for charity.

"It is very fulfilling to know that you are helping others whilst also pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone," said Emily.

Headmaster Bob Griffin set Emily the challenge of creating a charity day in her lower sixth summer term and, after the hype of the World Cup, she decided to organise a Bubble Football World Cup tournament on Sunday 28 September.

"We decided to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust as many of the staff and students have personal connections with the charity and many know those who owe their lives to this great cause. As it is also a local charity who often use the school's facilities, Exeter School has a connection with them also," said Emily.

Although stressful at times, organising the charity day has been an incredibly useful and enjoyable experience for Emily.

"It has allowed me see the great amount of work that goes behind events organisation and the teamwork that is needed to pull it all together!

"The number of people needed for a successful event to happen was beyond my expectation and it has also opened up my eyes to the opportunities of perhaps a career in the fundraising or events management sector.

"Although it was an enjoyable experience, I'm very relieved it is over and pleased we made such a good amount for DAAT."

The charity day would not have been possible without the help of many people including Head of Sixth Form Alison Marsh, the Bursar Commodore Richard Hawkins, Assistant Head Lyndsay Hilton, Estates and Facilities Manager Craig Stewart and the maintenance team, senior prefects, Mr and Mrs Brailey for the BBQ, Frobishers, Laser Camp and all those who donated auction prizes (Crealy, Westaways, Shauls, Martin's Pie Shop, SJB Foods, the Stoke family, the Hoddinott family, the Willson family, the Stacey family, the Whelan family, Manoj Chitnavis, Annette Goswell and Giles Ashman for the Exeter City shirt).

Exeter School held a cake sale and Sixth Form mufti day the following week raising a grand total of £3,103 for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.