After The Project’s Carrie Bickmore gave an emotional acceptance speech at The Logies and encouraged people to wear beanies to raise money and awareness for brain cancer, the school students took on the idea, raising more than $1000 yesterday.

The cause is all the more poignant because former TPS student Gabby Botfield lost her life to the disease.

Year 6 teacher and Student Representative Council co-ordinator Melissa Mack said the students had embraced the fundraiser.

“Some of us saw Carrie Bickmore’s speech at The Logies, and a number of people here have been affected by brain cancer,” she said.

“We’ve had staff members who have lost partners to brain cancer, and student, Gabby Botfield, had brain cancer. We thought, why not do that as our fundraiser this year? It’s the perfect weather for it.” 

Year 6 student Clayton Sagar said he wanted to donate money for the cause.

“A lot of people are dying from it and it’s really sad,” he said.

The aim was to raise $1000 from Beanie Day, but the school dug deep and raised $1300.

“Most of the students and staff got involved and the students knew what it was all about, with the seat in the garden in memory of Gabby,” Miss Mack said.

The money will be donated to brain cancer research.