SCHOOLS are going to be at the centre of the upcoming Ark Day fundraising push in June.

Ark Day is a Gazette-supported fundraising campaign which will take place on Friday, 21 June with the goal of raising as much money as possible for Ark Cancer Centre Charity in 24 hours.

Ark is raising £5million to help fund a much-needed NHS cancer treatment centre that will largely be funded by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at Basingstoke hospital.

So far, the charity has raised more than £2m, and this year, Ark Day – which is now less than 100 days away – will be one of its key fundraising events.

All schools in Basingstoke and Deane have to do to take part on June 21 is hold a non-uniform day.

Each pupil taking part donates £1 with every penny of that pound will go to Ark Cancer Centre Charity’s campaign.

Castle Hill Primary School, which has campuses in Winklebury and Rooksdown, became the first school to sign up to support Ark Day, and some of the pupils were delighted to have their pictures taken with Ark Day mascot MoneyPenny the pig.

Headteacher John Martin said: “We are delighted to support Ark Day. Having a non-uniform day on Friday, 21 June where pupils donate £1 to take part is a very simple and easy way to support this good cause.

“Ark Cancer Centre Charity is raising funds for a much-needed cancer treatment centre that will make a massive difference to the lives of local cancer patients and their loved ones, and Castle Hill Primary is pleased to be playing its part by actively supporting this community fundraising day.”

The drive is now on by the Ark Day Organising Committee, featuring volunteers from a range of well-known companies and organisations in Basingstoke – Apollo Hotel, Clarke & Son Solicitors, Champion Group, Lamb Brooks Solicitors, Metro Bank, RewindDigital, Rotary Basingstoke Deane – as well as members of Ark Cancer Centre Charity’s team, to get as many other borough schools as possible to sign up in the next few weeks.

The Gazette will then publish a picture special, which will see MoneyPenny visiting supporting schools, in the following edition after Ark Day. The special will also feature fundraisers taking part in activities on the day.

Pupils will be encouraged to dress up in yellow, green and blue – which are Ark Cancer Centre Charity’s colours – on June 21, and Ark Day mascot Moneypenny and team will be aiming to visit as many schools as possible

Schools can get involved in the day by going to arkday.co.uk/schools.