Pals in the saddle for charity ride (From Wiltshire Times)

Pals in the saddle for charity ride

2:10pm Sunday 10th March 2013 in Latest News

The friends of Quinton Barham who witness-ed his cardiac arrest on the football pitch last month have raised over £1,000 for Ronald McDonald House in Bristol with a sponsored bike ride on Saturday.

Eight Clarendon pupils cycled from Staverton Marina to Bristol Temple Meads and back for the charity, which provide meals and accommodation for parents of sick children and allow them to be close by to their child’s medical team.

Paul Barham, Quinton’s father, stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Bristol for nearly a month while his son recovered close by at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Jack Treby, 14, said: “We wanted to give something back to the people who helped his parents and we thought a bike ride was the best idea.”

Toby Brewer, 14, transferred from Trowbridge Football Club to Bradford on Avon Town Youth with Quinton last year and witnessed Quinton’s collapse at the pitch on February 3.

He said: “We all feel like we have done something and the progress Quinton has made has brightened the mood.

“We didn’t want to go to Bath because it is not much of a challenge. There were some roads that went on and a couple of hills, but we all stayed together in our onesies.”

Quinton’s school, Clarendon Academy, is putting on a week-long charity football match to also raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Every lunch time next week, teams consisting of year groups and staff will play each other, with prizes for each winning team.

Girls will be playing on Monday, Year 7/8 versus Year 10/11 on Tuesday, teachers versus pupils on Wednesday, Year 9 boys play each other on Thursday and Friday is open to any pupils. They will have to pay £1 to play, while pupils wanting to watch will have to make a donation.

Rupert Moreton, director of student progress, said: “Quinny’s Year 9 friends are a credit to him and the school. They have rallied around each other and arranged an amazing number of charitable fundraising events both within the school and outside.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/ Prayforquinny.

l Court Mills Youth Development Centre in Trowbridge will hold three first aid sessions, following requests from their young members in the wake of Quinton’s cardiac arrest. The free sessions, run by St John’s Ambulance, will start on Tuesday. More information from Samantha Shore on 01225 776772.