School raises cash in memory of popular Katie
A SCHOOL raised more than £460 for charity in memory of a former staff member, who died aged 17.
St Edmundsbury Primary, in Grove Road, collected the money for St Nicholas Hospice Care through audience donations at its Christmas concerts in tribute to Katie Tingey, who was a midday supervisor at the school.
The 17-year-old, who also worked at Glasswells and the Officer’s Club, died at the hospice at the end of November after a battle with cancer.
Her mother Sue Tingey and twin sister Shanno visited the school to hand over the funds to Sue Long, hospice community fundraiser, and Carol Bowyer, a nurse on the hospice’s Sylvan Ward.
Miss Tingey said: “Katie thought of everybody but herself. Her heart was bigger than her body. If she had £10 in her purse and you wanted it she would give it to you.
“She was my best friend and when she was ill, she never cried, she was just worried about me.
“She was a very popular girl and more than 200 people attended her funeral.”
Her family also donated £1,186 to the hospice which was raised at her funeral.
Miss Tingey added: “The hospice were brilliant with her and us.
“They were all like mums and treated her like royalty.”
Headteacher Jo Lundy said: “We made the collection after the Christmas concerts and the carol services.
“This year, because one of our colleagues had died, we thought we would have a special assembly to hand over the funds and invite Katie’s family to celebrate her life. We were thinking we might raise £200 to £250 but the parents were just so generous. It was wonderful.”
Mrs Long added: “We are so grateful to the family and friends who made donations. Without this kind of support, the hospice would not be able to continue.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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