An energetic event designed to get children moving and raise awareness about the impact diabetes has on people has raised thousands of pounds for charity.
Children from seven of our Portsmouth primary schools joined the citywide ‘Dance for Diabetes’ event in aid of Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation.
The event strives to raise awareness amongst young people about what diabetes is and how many people can avoid it through an active and healthy lifestyle.
Children were provided forms to raise money for their dance. For every £1 raised, the charity kindly gives 40 pence back to the school to support their mission to Transform Life Chances, with the remaining money being donated to the charity.
Everyone learned a simple choreographed fun dance routine from a series of videos provided to the schools by FunKidz Dance, who support the initiative each year. Here are the Thinking Schools Academy Trust schools in Portsmouth that participated:
Penbridge Infant School
Penbridge Juniors School
Meon Infant School
Meon Junior School
Moorings Way Infant School
New Horizons Primary School
Tim Green, head of community fundraising at the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, said:
“I am pleased to share TSAT schools raised a combined £8,429.70, with £3,371.88 (40%) making its way back to TSAT schools. What’s more, New Horizons Primary School have been crowned with our ‘Highest Fundraising School Award’ for 2024, raising a mega, £4,464.90.
“We had 15 schools [participate] this year, with 6 being from TSAT. 31% of this year’s income has come through TSAT schools, with the final amount reaching £27,160.13. Another record, up from £15.6k last year which is amazing. Thank you to every school for their support.”
Samuel Poole, communications officer at the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, said:
“Having worked with Tim and the team at Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation for some years now, it has been fantastic to see their Dance for Diabetes event grow from strength to strength.
“When I had the pleasure to photograph their Meon Way Federation event in 2023, I was driven to see all our Portsmouth primary schools involved so made the relevant introductions between the charity and school staff, and we achieved exactly that. This fundraiser is a brilliant initiative to support our schools to raise money to achieve their mission in Transforming Life Chances, while also doing good for another fantastic cause. Well done to everyone involved.”
Dance for Diabetes will be back for 2025, with an ambition to trial this project across TSAT secondary schools.
Photo credit: Will Smith Photography
