Students’ global gameshow raises funds for local toddler

Students on the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Travel and Tourism put on an entertainment show with a difference for fellow students in the college’s Refined restaurant at the Derby Road campus on Tuesday (16 May).

Running with an All Around The World theme, the students who are all aiming for careers in the tourism industry or further studies at university, put on a gameshow which included prizes as well as daring challenges.

Participants had to hunt for points in a yoghurt and porridge mixture, delve into a sand and mealworm mixture and bear the freezing temperatures of an iced footbath while answering questions in the bonus round.

The contest was all in the name of fun and fundraising for student Caitlin Carr’s three-year-old sister, who is hoping to undergo complex surgery to improve her life. Evie’s family are hoping to raise up to £20,000 to pay for the surgery and aftercare which is not available on the NHS.

Caitlin, 19, from Rainworth, encouraged classmates to base the fundraising element of their final show around her little sister Evie, who was born with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy. One of Evie’s main setbacks is being unable to walk due to severe muscle spasms and stiffness.

Money raised from the students’ show through donations, the prize raffle and cake and mocktail sales is going towards the funds which will eventually mean Evie can have specialist surgery. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery will involve cutting and dividing nerve fibres from her legs to her spinal cord to give her more control over her legs.

Caitlin said: “Everyone had great fun at the event and got really involved in the games. We raised almost £60 through the cake sales and raffle and I can’t wait to pass this to my stepmum and dad to add to Evie’s fund.

“As a group we’ve really enjoyed organising the day and it’s tested all our skills for event management and team work.”