A group of police officers are showing their support for a fundraising campaign to refurbish a soft play area at a school.
PC James Stopford, a safer neighbourhood sergeant in Three Rivers district, will be joined by several members of his team in aid of Colnbrook School.
Together, they will walk up to 40km on July 31 with all money they raise going towards a £20,000 target set by the Friends of Colnbrook School.
PC Stopford, who says he was inspired to get involved after spotting the campaign in an article published in the Observer, said: "I was very pleased to log onto our Just Giving Page after only 24 hours of writing it to see my initial target of £100 blown out of the water.
"Hopefully we can keep raising money for this amazing cause before the walk on July 31. My brother-in-law was a student at Colnbrook growing up so I’m happy to help wherever I can."
So far £725 has been raised on the police officers' Just Giving fundraising page, with nearly £6,000 raised in total by the school.
Cara Taylor, chairman of the Friends of Colnbrook, said: "These are the hardest times the children of Colnbrook have ever faced, so we are incredibly grateful to PC Stopford and his team for their efforts on behalf of this appeal. We can’t wait to cheer them on."
The Colnbrook Soft Play Crowdfund Campaign is a first for Colnbrook School in South Oxhey.
The school offers specialised learning for more than 100 primary-aged children with speech and language challenges, developmental delay and a range of diagnosis such as autism and downs syndrome.
Head teacher Caroline Aplin, who is also President of Friends of Colnbrook, says the soft play area is a key space for pupils to build strength and enhance skills, and support their sensory and emotional development.
But she says the play room is "currently not fit for purpose", and it is limiting opportunity for learning and therapy at a time the children need to be supported away from setbacks.
Friends of Colnbrook has set a fundraising target of £20,000 to totally rebuild the soft play, adding safe, quality equipment to last and refreshing layout to maximise the children’s time in the space.
Ms Aplin said: "Support is desperately needed from the public so-as to maximise the potential to reach the ambitious £20,000 target.
"The more people who see this appeal and feel motivated to donate any amount at all, the better the chances of success.
"These are the hardest times we’ve ever faced, but The Friends of Colnbrook has launched this appeal for these incredible children who inspire and motivate them every day."
The Virgin Monday main fundraising page for a soft play area at Colnbrook School can be found here.
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