Since 2014, Mt Colah Preschool Kindergarten has been fundraising for the NORTH Foundation in their Annual Walkathon. They have raised an impressive $18,000 to support the paediatric ward at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.
The idea for a walkathon came from former centre director Annette, who wanted the children to understand about giving back, particularly to their local hospital.
Sadly, Annette passed away a few years ago after bravely battling breast cancer, however the Walkathon has continued in her memory.
New centre director Lara Cass said, “The walkathon has allowed us all to experience the act of giving and the importance of helping our local community by contributing to help people in the community.”
“Not only has this been a great lesson for us in empathy for others, but there have also been opportunities to learn about teamwork, supporting friends, the importance of exercise and being fit and healthy,” said Lara.
To accompany them in their walk, the pre-schoolers create number signs by tracing and decorating numbers and challenge their math skills with number recognition and counting the number of laps walked by their friends.
The children recalled the day in their journal and wrote sentiments like, “We made lots of money to spend for the hospital” and “The doctors helped my mummy in hospital”.
When asked what the money could be spent on, the children commented it could go towards “colouring in things, a teddy, Barbies and toys” for the children to play with in hospital.
Lara continued, “We are proud of the people these children are becoming and we hope that these skills of kindness, helping others and teamwork are something they carry with them throughout their lives.”
“We love that we are able to also promote a sense of community within the early childhood setting and build connections between us and our local community.”
The NORTH Foundation is grateful to everyone at Mt Colah Preschool Kindergarten for their commitment and fundraising efforts. Keep up the great work!
If your community would like to raise funds for a cause you care about, please click here to learn more about getting involved.
