Over 600 pupils from Buile Hill Visual Arts College in Salford will walk out of lessons next week and join a 10k stroll in honour of two-year-old Noel Taylor.
The toddler has been suffering with cerebral palsy and lung problems since birth and has been in and out of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
His mum, Isobel Taylor has taught English at the school for eight years.
Friends, teachers and the school have helped organise a 10 kilometre walk around Irlams o’th Height and Buile Hill Park to raise money for Ronald McDonald House, which provides a free place to stay for families with children in hospital.
Isobel explains how heartbreaking life can sometimes be caring for children with health problems.
“Noel is always on oxygen and he also has visual and hearing impairments.
“He has spent more of his life in hospital than he has at home,” she said.
“It’s very hard for the family, we are often separated as Noel’s dad is always at the hospital.”
Noel has spent much of his young life in hospital
The walk in his honour entitled ‘Stroll for Noel’ will see 600 students and 100 teachers making their way through Salford in an effort to raise money for the children’s charity, Ronald McDonald House.
On his most recent hospital stay, Noel’s family was allocated a room for five weeks at Ronald McDonald House.
“The time we spent there allowed us to do normal family things again, says Isobel.
“I’m so happy we’re now able to give something back to the charity.”
The route on Friday 15 July will see students walking from school at 11am, they will make their way past Irlams O’th Height, continuing past St John’s Primary, down Eccles New Road, through Langworthy, past Tesco’s and finishing back at the school at roughly 1pm.
Anna Sillitoe, Head of Community and Performing Arts, said: “I came up with the idea, along with some of the students. We knew of a teacher’s son who had been to the Ronald McDonald House and some of the students new other people who had been there also.
“It’s a bit above and beyond for us to do, but we feel it is important.”
Read: Cancer-hit teacher says Salford pupils who raised £1,000 ‘like second family’
The Ronald McDonald House is funded partly by volunteers and donation boxes situated at the majority of McDonald’s restaurants.
The charity promises a ‘home away from home’ experience, completely free for families with critically ill children or children who are receiving treatment at their local hospital. They have helped 5.7 million families across the country as of 2014.
Sillitoe added: “It’s amazing what they do. Buile School has quite a close connection with the charity as many children know families who have been there before.
“We will be carrying buckets around with us so people can donate, and we are also trying to get some T-shirts made.”
The school aim to raise £2,500, and all money raised will be given to the Ronald McDonald House.
Buile School students have form in this regard, helping to raise £4,500 for Asthma UK after the tragic death of popular pupil, 12-year-old Ben O’Neill.
Ben, who suffered from the most critical form of the illness, brittle athsma, died have taken part in a different 10k walk during 2015, which was in tribute to Ben O’Neill, 12, who sadly died from an asthma attack.
He was suffering with brittle asthma at the time. The walk raised and another charity set up in Ben’s name.
Watch: Thousands raised for Athsma UK in Ben’s Big Walk
If you would like to donate to the ‘Stroll for Noel’ walk, go to their Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/strollfornoel
