Strictly sensational from Caitlin
Dance mad Teignmouth schoolgirl Caitlin Woolley has raised nearly £750 for our charity as a thank you for supporting her and her mum through cancer.
Ten-year-old Caitlin organised a cake sale, a dance marathon, a raffle, an auction and also distributed collection tins.
The Year 6 pupil at Teignmouth Community School has presented a total of £749.38 to FORCE.
“I am ever so happy that I managed to raise such a huge amount of money for FORCE,” said Caitlin. “I am really pleased. And I have just found out that I have got into the Newton Abbot Pantomime. I am over the moon!”
Mum Zuzana Woolley has been helped by the charity during her treatment for thyroid cancer and Caitlin attends the children’s group at FORCE’s Support and Information Centre.
“I’m so proud of her,” said Zuzana. “I really didn’t expect that amount and we’re really grateful to everyone who supported her.”
Caitlin is a student at the Totnes School of Dance. Friends and family joined her at their King Edward VI Community College studio for her sponsored four-hour dance-a-thon.
“It was really tiring but it was worth it. Now I’m trying to think of what else I can do to raise money,” she said.
In the meantime Caitlin, who hopes to become a professional dancer when she grows up, will be rehearsing for the Newton Abbot & District Musical Comedy Society’s production of Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood, which will run from January 11-17 at The Alexandra Theatre.
“It is always lovely to see younger people getting involved with fundraising and we are very grateful to Caitlin for working so hard to raise such a fantastic amount of money for FORCE,” said the charity’s Community Fundraiser Naomi Cole. “She came up with all of her own ideas, and was able to put them into action with hardly any help from anyone else. We are so grateful to her for thinking of FORCE and it was great to see what fantastic support she got from her friends and family as well as all of the businesses who supported her. Caitlin is already planning her next fundraising event, so we look forward to seeing her again before too long. What a star.”
Our picture shows Caitlin Woolley presenting a cheque for £744.38 to FORCE Community Fundraiser Naomi Cole and Paul Grace, FORCE Oncology Support Specialist with particular responsibility to work alongside families and children. Caitlin received a further £5 donation after she had written the cheque
