A Calne school has raised £6,000 in memory of former pupil Evie Clover, who died from cancer aged just 13.

St Margaret’s Preparatory School chose Evie’s Gift as its charity of the year and has held a wide range of fundraising events over the past twelve months.

Evie’s Gift was set up by Bryan and Patsy Clover, Evie’s parents, in order to provide financial help to other families whose children have been admitted to hospital with a life threatening or life limiting condition, and also to fund research into brain cancer.

Mr Clover was at the school’s Prize-Giving day to receive a cheque for the charity. He told staff and pupils that the fund had helped more than 200 families since it was set up following Evie’s death, in January 2018.

Fundraising by the school has included a sponsored walk, cake and plant sales and various mufti days. Last year, it also named an outdoor teaching space in Evie’s memory as a lasting tribute.

Headmistress Karen Cordon said: "Evie was a very special girl who undoubtedly maximised her time at St Margaret’s. Her death was a terrible shock to the whole school community and we are especially pleased to be able to support Evie’s Gift this year."

Special guest at the presentation day was Alex Lewis, who inspired the audience with his story of an incredible fight back against adversity. He rebuilt his body, as well as his relationships with his partner and his young son, after he lost his limbs and part of his face to toxic shock syndrome.

Mr Lewis, 34, was given just hours to live and a three percent chance of survival after he contracted septicemia, which led to him having all four limbs amputated. Additionally, Alex also lost his lips and nose. He took a truly inspirational approach to what happened to him and his story of positivity and adjustment to a new life was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary.