A children’s ward at North Staffordshire’s main hospital is to benefit from a Headmaster’s marathon charity effort.

Nick Rugg of Newcastle-under-Lyme School completed the Great North Run to raise funds for the Children’s Oncology Ward at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Mr Rugg chose the good cause because of the excellent care provided by the ward to three current pupils at the school.

“It was my first half marathon but the fabulous spirit of my fellow runners and the urge not to disappoint the hundreds of people who have given generously to my sponsorship drive pulled me through,” said Mr Rugg.

Mr Rugg, who completed the 13 mile long event in 2hrs 28mins is on course to raise around £4,000 for the children’s ward.

The sponsorship fund is set to grow when the school holds a reunion dinner for ex-pupils at Keele Hall on 15 October.

Funds raised by the event will be donated to the Children’s Oncology Ward.

Julie Hesketh, of the school’s external relations department, said: “The school is inviting all former pupils to get in touch and we are appealing to people to contact their old school friends to ask them along to the reunion.

Anyone who is interested in attending the dinner or renewing their links with the school should contact Julie on 01782 664271.

ENDS

For further information contact Julie Hesketh on 01782 664271.

Note to editors:
Newcastle-under-Lyme School is an independent day school catering for pupils from three to 18 years of age. A nursery, junior school, senior school and sixth form are all part of the school family. The School is able to commit over half a million pounds a year from its own resources to support the education of children from lower income backgrounds.

The School’s website can be accessed at www.nuls.org.uk.

Newcastle-under-Lyme School, Mount Pleasant, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DB.