MP praises charity efforts of pupil who has completed cancer treatment

Rishi Sunak has praised the fundraising initiative of a school pupil who recently completed treatment for cancer.

Rosie Gordon, a Year 2 pupil at Applegarth Primary School, Northallerton, organised a Wear Your PJs to School Day.

The event, held on the day Mr Sunak visited the school, raised almost £1,000 for the charity Children’s Cancer North.

Mr Sunak also joined pupils to hear about their recent SATs and spoke with pupils about how they learn maths and financial literacy, including their work on the NSPCC’s annual Number Day.

He later led a whole school assembly, speaking to pupils about the importance of education, maths in everyday life, and the role of democracy.

The Richmond and Northallerton MP finished the visit by congratulating Year 6 students on completing their SATs and wished them well as they transition to Secondary school.

Speaking after the visit, Rishi Sunak said: “Rosie’s fundraising is truly inspiring and a real reflection of her strength and determination.

“It was wonderful to visit Applegarth Primary and see the whole school community come together to support such an important cause. The staff, pupils and governors can all be extremely proud of what they are achieving, both in the classroom and beyond.”

Vikki Hughes, maths leader, said: “It was wonderful for the children to be able to tell Mr Sunak about the maths they enjoy.

“They confidently talked about their learning in maths and their understanding of financial literacy, explaining what they had learnt on our annual Number Day in aid of the NSPCC.”

Headteacher, Kate Maxwell, said: “We were honoured to welcome Rishi Sunak MP to Applegarth Primary School. His visit was an inspiring experience for our pupils, especially as he led an engaging assembly which included a lively discussion on democracy and using maths in real-life careers.

“A particular highlight was his heartfelt congratulations to Rosie Gordon, whose compassion and resilience embody the spirit of our school, and it was incredibly moving to see her recognised in such a special way.”