A TEAM of students from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys has been presented with a Diana Award after raising £1,114 for Manchester-based charity Prevent Breast Cancer.

Year 12 pupil Amin Hashmi got in touch with the charity to find out how he could support them after attending a conference as part of Prevent Breast Cancer’s Student Challenge, an annual campaign launched by the charity to educate young people about its work.

Amin teamed up with a group of students to plan a ‘Pink Week’ at their school, rallying support from the headmaster, teachers and pupils to gain support.

The team held assemblies, organised a bake sale and held a static bike challenge and a ‘name a teddy’ competition to raise funds for the charity, which is the only charity in the UK that focuses solely on the prediction and prevention of breast cancer.

Due to their charitable efforts, the team were nominated for a Diana Award by the charity and the school, which they were presented with at the House of Lords in July.

Prevent Breast Cancer holds The Student Challenge each year at the beginning of October – to tie in with Breast Cancer Awareness Month – kicking off with a conference at The Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, where the charity is based.

Students are given a tour of the building and listen to a presentation about the aims and achievements of the charity, before being set a challenge to support the charity.

Nikki Barraclough said: “The Student Challenge has proven to be a great success in motivating young people to step out of their comfort zone, as well as giving them a great sense of pride and achievement.

"It also educates the students on the impact that breast cancer has and the great work that the charity is doing.

“We are always so impressed by the efforts of the students who take part, and were blown away by the work that Amin and his team put into raising money and awareness, which is why nominated them for a Diana Award. It was a well-deserved win.”

Gill Williamson, sixth form officer at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, said: “We are very proud of Amin and the team, and the incredible effort that they put into organising the events for Prevent Breast Cancer.

"As well as raising an impressive sum of money, they also helped to educate many other students – and staff – about breast cancer and how the charity are helping to create a future free from breast cancer.

“We nominated them for a Diana Award for the impact that they made not just on the school, but on all of the families connected. They are a true credit to our school.”

Amin said: “For me personally, the challenge was a massive eye-opener into breast cancer. I didn’t know too much about the disease before, but after realising that breast cancer not only affects the person themselves, but also their family and friends, it made me feel as if I should do something to help raise awareness.

“It was the first time I had ever been involved in such a leadership role and doing any kind of fundraising work.

"Mrs Williamson and the Prevent team were very supportive, and I learned many skills throughout. I think The Student Challenge is an excellent initiative, and we all felt truly inspired to do our bit for the charity.”

The next Prevent Breast Cancer Student Conference will take place on Tuesday October 1.