Gill Barry, Gemma Brown and Martin Blenkinsop present the money to Jack Doyle, left, and Jeff Morland.

Sixth Formers have helped to take a bereaved family’s fundraising efforts to £50,000. Levon Morland a former student, died of the rare heart condition Wolf Parkinson White syndrome. His family and friends have been raising money for the charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young, to fund research and pay for screening to detect this and other similar conditions.
Students and staff at Durham Sixt5h Form Centre, entered the Great North Run and raised £2,000.
Levon’s father Jeff, an official with the union Amicus and singer with the rhythm and blues band Barking Billy and the Scrapyard Dogs, said “I was choked to see that 70 people would run the Great North Run and choose our charity.”
The fundraising has included music nights featuring Jeff’s band, a cycle ride and fa irewalk.
Mr Morland has also sought sponorship from companies and unions and has put screening for the conditionon the political agenda by lobbying regional politicians, including Labour MPs Kevan Jones and Dari Taylor.
It is hoped that the funds raised so far will help to lunch a programme of heart screening for youngsters.
The condition can lie undetected in otherwise healthy and active youngsters but can be discovered by a simple test and rectified by a simple operation.

Source: Durham Advertiser.

Linda Stephenson accepts proceeds from the slave auction.

Freedom came at a high price for students in the slave auction organised by the Charity Committee.
Slaves were sent to lessons in place of their masters, to write up lesson notes, dressing up in silly costumes, washing cars and carrying out errands in Durham. Other slaves were required to kneel before their masters or even dance in the refectory for their amusement. Strict rules however meant that although you could make the slaves work hard, you could not abuse them!

The Charities Committee raised just over £450 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
Linda Stephenson the Area Fundraising Manager for Durham & Cleveland for the Royal National
Institute for the Blind, said “I congratulate all the students who took part in the slave auction for this
generous donation. This is perhaps the most unique fund raising event I have ever come across.”

Mr Jeff Morland with Students at the Sixth
Form Centre, who are running for charity, CRY.

Students at Durham Sixth Form Centre are determined to turn tragedy into triumph by raising funds in memory of a former pupil who died of a rare heart condition. The 70-strong team is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the charity CRY [Cardiac Risk in the Young] by taking part in the Great North Run this month.

Levon Morland 22, from West Rainton, died in his sleep last year from the rear disorder Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome. His father Jeff Morland travelled to the Sixth Form Centre to give each of those taking part a special red T-shirt bearing the CRY logo. Mr Morland, who is divisional officer and regional political secretary with Amicus - AEEU union, has campaigned tirelessly since his son's death death and in just over a year has raise £40,000.

Mr Morland, who has received extensive support in his campaign, is also working towards the establishment of national screening, counselling and support for bereaved families and research funding for the rare cardiac conditions.
Levon's sudden death shattered his close family including his twin brother Aran and Mr Morland, during his visit to the Sixth Form Centre, spoke movingly to those taking part in the run. His family, he said, had known of Levon's condition but had not been told it could prove fatal or that it could be cured or treated with medication.
He urged those taking part in the run to be tested with a simple ECG [Electro Cardiograph] test because he said "although these are very rare conditions it is those who fit who are at the most risk."
As well as the student team a number of staff members will also be taking part in the half marathon including the Centre's principal Mr M. Brett.
Mr Richard Miller, who taught both Levon and Arran, said the decision to give the school's support to CRY was reached unanimously.