Sheffield teacher raises over £5,000 to provide essentials for families in financial difficulty due to pandemic

A long-serving and dedicated teacher from Sheffield has raised over £5,000 to make sure that families who are struggling financially won't go without food or essential items during lockdown.
Mark Bebbington has worked at Watercliffe Community Primary School for 12 years and has raised over £5,000 to help by items for families who are struggling financially due to the coronavirus crisisMark Bebbington has worked at Watercliffe Community Primary School for 12 years and has raised over £5,000 to help by items for families who are struggling financially due to the coronavirus crisis
Mark Bebbington has worked at Watercliffe Community Primary School for 12 years and has raised over £5,000 to help by items for families who are struggling financially due to the coronavirus crisis

Mark Bebbington, a Year 6 teacher at Watercliffe Meadow Primary, in Shirecliffe, walked 30 miles around the school’s running track on Thursday, April 23, to raise vital funds.

The 48-year-old initially aimed to raise £500, a target which he surpassed shortly after setting up the fundraising page after vowing to complete the challenge in a Sheffield United shirt – despite being a huge Sheffield Wednesday fan – if he raised £2,500.

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He has now raised a little over £5,068 and, after documenting his efforts on social media, even gained attention from the likes of Sheffield United’s manager, Chris Wilder, who sent a video message of support.

Mark Bebbington, a huge Sheffield Wednesday fan, wore a Sheffield United shirt during the challenge (Photo: Dan Moore)Mark Bebbington, a huge Sheffield Wednesday fan, wore a Sheffield United shirt during the challenge (Photo: Dan Moore)
Mark Bebbington, a huge Sheffield Wednesday fan, wore a Sheffield United shirt during the challenge (Photo: Dan Moore)
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Mark said: “I just didn’t expect it – I planned for £500 thinking that a few friends and family would donate but to end up at that amount is phenomenal. We know we can help so many people and the amount of food we can buy with that and toiletries is great.”

Currently, Watercliffe receives products from charitable food redistributors, Fare Share, each week and staff have managed to source other items to boost their weekly food hampers which are delivered to vulnerable families.

The fundraising idea came about after the school staff noticed a growing number of families who are equally as in need, and are struggling financially, but are not entitled to free school meals.

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“On Thursday, we sent out 26 food parcels to families that had not had one before,” Mark said. “We now need to contact various organisations to see if they can order food for us so we’re not taking it away from the general public.”

He added: “We’ve now raised over £5,000 which we never thought was possible but there will be other schools out there that need help, need food, and need money. If people want to donate, rather than donating to mine they should contact their school or local foodbank. There are families that need help that haven’t asked.

“They may be ashamed to contact the school or a food bank. If we’ve got families that are struggling then there will be families all over the city that are struggling too.”

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