The traditional Christmas Fair organized by the British Council School and its Volunteer Association for Citizenship and Charity, has once again this year, been a resounding success and a true example of values around Caring, so important for our whole School community. It was a day full of expectation, presents, music and surprises. The School has collected almost 13,000 euros which will all be donated to BIOOR grants for research against Cancer.
As every year, parents, teachers and students were able to enjoy a British Victorian Christmas as a family, with music, games, food and fun, and all in aid of a great Charity. The School´s Christmas Fair allows our students not only to understand the value and importance of looking after and worrying about others, but also to learn how they themselves can contribute to this. And that´s why all the different year groups throw themselves into it, in a very proactive way, to ensure that this charity Christmas market is a complete success, year after year.
At the Fair, as well as charitable giving there is also room for other values such as recycling. That´s why there are several stalls where you can buy secondhand books, school uniforms and musical instruments which their current owners have out grown. And to spend a good day at BIOOR, there is also great food from around the world, and of course the famous and typically British, mulled wine and mince pies, as well as face painting, prize draws, games and competitions.
The icing on the cake is our Raffle. Almost at the end of the day, the lucky numbers are drawn. This year, some of the most coveted prizes were an electric scooter, some virtual reality glasses, and a karting session with Carlos Sainz. The other prizes on offer, a total of 18 winning numbers, also appealed to both children and adults: a Mallorca Hamper, a Fruit Basket, a Charcuterie Lot, VIPS Vouchers, a Mothercare Picture Frame, a Paddle Raquet, DIOR Perfumes, a FNAC Gift Voucher, 2 nights at Santos Hotels, a Football, a Taste of America hamper, a Selection of Sweets...
BIOOR Grants
BIOOR Grants for Oncology Research is a pioneering project which was started by the classmates of a School student who lived with the disease for 3 years. During this time, she worked with different hospitals for children with cancer and her passion was oncology research. In the end, she lost her fight against cancer and her fellow students at the British Council School set in motion this initiative, in her memory.
Doctor Alejo Efeyán from the National Centre for Oncology Research is the most recent beneficiary of the BIOOR Grant for Cancer Research. In total, Efeyán will receive 51,467 euros to fund research studies into blood cancer over three years. The research will seek to understand the trigger for follicular lymphoma (cancer of the immune system), a critical milestone in finding potential weaknesses in these cells, trying to find new treatments and cures. The number of follicular lymphomas has multiplied over the last few years and the disease can mutate into extremely aggressive forms, making it quite incurable.
It is an honour for the British Council School to be able to collaborate in projects like these. And also to be able to instill in our students the values of charity and commitment, from an early age. That´s why the School would like to thank everybody for their support. Without the help of parents, teachers and children as well as the help of the whole British Council School Family, it would not be possible to support such a worthy cause, each year. From its launch in 2003, BIOOR has managed to raise 219,000 euros, which have all been dedicated to Cancer research.