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Students at Harris Girls Academy Dulwich have donated £9,000 to the Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation to fund music therapy sessions for children with congenital heart conditions having treatment at the London Evelina Children’s Hospital.

The students, who raised the money by making cupcakes and organising special events at school, visited the hospital on March 25 to present the cheque.

They met music therapist Cathy Birch, whose one-day-a-week post they are funding. “She explained how vital music can be to young children undergoing intensive clinical treatment,” said Paula Ledger, Vice Principal, who accompanied the students.

Students donate £9,000 to Evelina Children's Heart Organisation from Harris Dulwich Girls on Vimeo.

“Extremely moving”

“Music has the power to reach places and give children a way of expressing themselves, when other ways are harder because of what they are experiencing,” said Ms Ledger. “It was extremely moving watching pre-school children wired to monitors and clearly very poorly, but still able to get pleasure through music therapy.”

Cathy, who has a trolley of instruments she takes around the wards, often starts working one-to-one but soon finds a whole group joining in, including adults.

She gave our students a taste of how powerful music therapy can be. “She got us using our hands to make a rhythm on the table and hum,” said Ms Ledger. “It was amazing to see the impact on our students. They loved it and even broke into song.”

Parents of children at the hospital are appreciative too. “Although it may not fix bones or mend a heart, it did help rebuild my daughter’s spirit,” one said.

Delighted

Accepting the cheque, Director of Operations at ECHO Samantha Johnson said that the students at Harris Girls' Academy have been amazing to work with and have made a huge difference to the children who will benefit from Cathy’s Music Therapy.

Clinical psychologist Melinda Edwards said had wanted a music therapist on her team for a long time and was delighted the students had made this possible.

Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich is a long-term supporter of the Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation (ECHO), which supports children and young people with heart conditions who receive treatment at the Evelina Children’s Hospital. ECHO is one of the good causes supported by our own social enterprise HOPE (Helping Others, Promoting Enterprise).

“Biggest gifts”

“We are very proud of our students for making this commitment to the hospital and working so hard to raise the money,” said Principal Jane Fletcher. “This must be one of the biggest gifts made by students anywhere in the UK to a charity, and it was wonderful for them to be able to see for themselves just how much benefit it would bring to children at the hospital.”

The students leading the fundraising were:

• Sophie, Year 13
• Janelle, Year 13
• Oyinkansola, Year 13
• Jesse, Year 13
• Maisie, Year 12
• Isatu, Year 12
• Nhi Ngo yr11
• Demi, Year 10
• Hope, Year 10
• Saadia, Year 8
• Abigail, Year8
• Calea, Year 8

Below: Melinda Edwards, clinical psychologist, explains how music can support children who are poorly and undergoing treatment at the hospital.