Catenian/Val Bowler Memorial Prize

This year’s Catenian/Val Bowler Memorial Prize was actually presented to one of St Richard's Catholic College's disabled pupils, Thomas Harrison, who was born with cerebral palsy.

Mrs Karen Taylor PA to the Principal writes:

The In his wheelchair Tom has been a familiar friendly sight around the school. In January 2007 Tom had an operation to straighten his legs and he made a decision that he was no longer prepared to sit in his wheelchair once the plaster came off. We are very proud of the way Tom stuck to his decision and the encouragement he has received from others to keep on walking using his walking frame.

Once Tom became more confident on his feet he asked permission to organise a sponsored walk to raise funds for a school in Peru where his aunt was currently working. The School Council helped Tom to organise this event which was to walk around the playground a number of times using his walking frame. This he did successfully cheered on by members of the School Council.

The money raised for Stella Morris in Puerto Maldonado enabled the school to build itself a kitchen. Interestingly, during the summer holiday Tom presented the money while on a visit to Puerto Maldonado and a week later, having returned from a trip in the forest, the kitchen was built and was already providing hot meals for a number of needy children. This was lovely for Tom to witness.

Tom is to be congratulated on his fundraising efforts as well as his determination to ‘get walking’! Before the operation it had been a real struggle to get Tom out of his wheelchair; now he is determined to use it as little as possible.

Both the Catenian Assocaition here in Sussex and the St Richard's school community feelt he was a worthy recipient.