Record-breaking school holds onto its fundraising crown
Alva Academy is once again the top fundraising school for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Alva Academy has held onto its crown of top fundraising school in the whole of the UK for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Clackmannanshire secondary has donated more than £300,000 to the charity over the past 15 years, which has earned the school the prestigious Douglas Macmillan Award.
Following this year's World's Biggest Coffee Morning, staff and pupils raised a further £45,168.22.
The record amount - which was the most raised by a school for the event this year - was collected following several weeks of fundraising.
As well as hill walks, dog walks and bungee jumps, the pupils also took part in skiathons, swimathons and readathons.
Alongside bake sales, a bingo tea and annual ceilidh, young musicians also entertained residents at local care homes.
The school's epic fundraising came to a close with the coffee morning.
Teacher David Clifford, who previously accepted a UK Government Point of Light award at 10 Downing Street on behalf of the secondary, said: "We are absolutely over the moon.
"To raise over £45,000 in a month for such a worthwhile cause just goes to show how much this means to the pupils, the school and the whole community.
"It means the world to have achieved so much in terms of awareness raised, memories created, skills developed and valuable funds raised."
Alva Academy is located at the foot of the Ochil Hills within Scotland's smallest council area.
Mr Clifford said charity is "at the heart" of the school and embraces its core values of "determination, service and respect".
The teacher, who has written and performed a song in tribute to a late friend and the school's fundraising, explained: "We do this for many reasons.
"The benefits for our young people are endless, whether it be extra qualifications, sense of community spirit or just developing skills that will stand them in good stead for learning, work or life.
"We do it because we can. We have been so lucky that our community is behind everything we do in Alva and that our school and local authority senior management support us in every way.
"We do this because we care. Sometimes our young people can simply amaze you.
"It's usually our job as teachers to inspire them but I think you'll be able to see from the Give a little time video it is most definitely the other way round this time.
"What they have done to achieve this would take pages and pages and the sacrifices they have made are endless, but the most precious thing they have given is their time.
"So, next time society labels young people as snowflakes, watch this and remember that they can also be kind, caring, compassionate, generous, determined, respectful and selfless."
Michelle Campbell, Macmillan Cancer Support's fundraising manager, said: "I am so proud of the school and all they have achieved.
"Each year they raise an outstanding amount of money as part of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, and this year they did it again.
"The school tries to involve everyone in the local community, from businesses and other schools, to care homes and their own friends and family.
"They open the school to everyone for their coffee morning and put on an amazing range of creative events in the lead up. It's brilliant for the community spirit and raises a staggering amount of money to fund our services for people with cancer.
"The support of the kids and the community amazes us every single year and we're so grateful to the teachers who keep the momentum up, particularly Miss Finn and Mrs and Mr Clifford."