In a heartwarming gesture during the season of goodwill, a teacher’s fundraising campaign to help a pupil purchase a much-needed new wheelchair has successfully reached its £13,000 goal.

Billie Pitchford is a teacher at Flying High Academy, Ladybrook, who in November decided to see if a JustGiving Crowdfunding campaign would help her pupil Ravi Indrasena (year 5), get a much needed, but costly new wheelchair.

Through the generosity of staff, families and friends of the school, which is based on Somersall Street on Ladybrook Estate, the fund began to gain support beyond the school’s own community and quickly started to inch towards its total.

The campaign even received an unexpected boost when comedian Jason Manford shared it on social media, and before Billie and the supporters could take stock, the fundraising target of £13,000 had been triumphantly surpassed.

Billie Pitchford (Yr 5 Teacher Flying High Academy, Ladybrook), explained, “In November, I met with Ravi’s mum, Rangani, and we discussed Ravi transitioning to secondary school. We felt Ravi would benefit greatly from using an electric wheelchair to access school independently.” Billie said the family were not able to secure any funding as they are originally from Sri Lanka and are currently in the UK on a work visa, with Rangani employed by Kings Mill Hospital.

Billie said, “I explained that I would like to work with them to try and raise money to support Ravi. After returning to class, I spoke with pupils in 5BP class about Ravi’s situation and asked Ravi what having an electric wheelchair would mean to him. He shared that it would give him more freedom and independence at break and lunchtime. As a class, we decided to set up a JustGiving page and share it via School Dojo and social media to see how much we could raise.”

Following this, several children at the school took the initiative to fundraise at their Christmas Fair, selling items they had crafted. Pupils Lorrellie and Lorretta, Olivia-Jayne, Jessie, Robyn and Zack managed to raise a whopping £160 through their efforts!

Year 5 teacher Billie, [who left the school in December after ten years’ service] promised that the money raised, whatever the amount, would be passed to the family on her final week at school. “When I said this, the JustGiving page had reached just over £2,000. As a class, we were incredibly proud of how our school community had come together to support Ravi and his family – the children even made checking the total part of their morning routine.  But we were still a long way from our target.

“Then, on Friday 12th December at around 10:30 pm, my email account suddenly began filling with notifications from JustGiving to say new donations had been made. When I checked the page, the total had jumped to £9,451 almost instantly. Many of the donations were anonymous and included ninja emojis in the comments. I shared the news in the staff group chat in a rather garbled, emotional voice note, -completely stunned by what was happening.

“One colleague quickly discovered that comedian Jason Manford had shared the JustGiving page as part of an anonymous ‘Charity Ninja’ initiative he supports. Within 90 minutes of him sharing the page on social media, the fundraising total had exceeded the £13,000 target – and donations were still coming in!”

Billie said she contacted her headteacher, Kerry Chadburn, and informed all staff of the incredible news. Billie said, “I also emailed Ravi’s mum to let her know and sent a scheduled Dojo message to the parents of 5BP class and asked everyone to keep the information quiet from children, as I wanted to share the news with Ravi and the children on Monday morning at school.”

When Monday arrived, in front of assembled children and Ravi’s mum, the new total was shared, and Billie said the room fell completely silent. “You could have heard a pin drop she said, “Teaching assistants Mrs Young and Mrs Jackson were in tears, several children became emotional and others sat wide-eyed and speechless as the total was revealed and the story was explained. It was an incredibly powerful and moving moment for everyone involved.”

Of course, no one was more surprised by the outcome than Ravi who said, “I can’t believe I’m getting a new wheelchair. I’m so surprised that we raised this much money and that some of the money had come from people who didn’t know me personally. It’s going to change my experience of break and lunchtime at school.”

Ravi’s mum Rangani Handagala said, “Being in a totally different country seven oceans away from mother land Sri Lanka, we experienced the warmth from our community in the UK beyond words can express. We expected nothing, but you gave everything. We wish a brighter, colourful future to you all and I am sure you will remember this great deed as the happiest thing in your life forever. As Buddhists, we wish all the merits that you gained from this beautiful work will guide you throughout your journey in this life towards success in whatever you do. Thank you again beyond the words that I can express.”

In addition to the fundraising, the school received an email from Wendy O’Dell Callaway at Hippo Accountants, who kindly donated £150 for the children of 5BP class to celebrate their achievement. The class chose a pyjama party and were able to enjoy a pizza, hot chocolate and snacks on Thursday 18th December as a reward for their compassion and hard work.

Billie said, “Personally, I am completely overwhelmed by the generosity shown to Ravi and his family. This experience has shown the children – and all of us – the power of kindness, community, and social media when it is used for good.”

Year 5 pupil Mckenzie said, “I’m so happy for Ravi to get a new wheelchair, he’ll be able to join in with so many more games at lunchtime!” Teaching Assistant, Mrs Vikki Jackson added, “It is a pleasure to work with Ravi and he deserves this independence, freedom and dignity. – but I am afraid for my toes!”

Teaching Assistant Mrs Joe Young said, “Honestly, I don’t know what to say, waking up to the news that the target had been reached blew my mind. I burst into tears just knowing the difference it will make to Ravi’s whole school experience. The generosity from everyone, particularly at this time of year restores my faith in humanity.”

Finally, Billie Pitchford said the experience will remain with her forever, saying, “I am immensely proud of the children in 5BP class and for our community coming together to help Ravi. This will be both mine and the children’s legacy. I have shed more tears than I thought possible because of strangers coming together to support him. “